# The City of Cape Town is intensifying efforts to tackle extortion in Heideveld, in Athlone, where criminals are locking taps and toilets and demanding payment for free basic services. The city provides water and sanitation to over 487 informal settlements at no cost, and no one is allowed to charge for access. Mayoral committee member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, says this is unacceptable and urges residents to report incidents anonymously through the city’s 24-hour tip-off hotline.
City of Cape Town cracks down on extortionists locking toilets and taps in Heideveld informal settlement