The City of Cape Town Environmental Management Department has been rolling out its Smart Flo Programme at various high schools this month, an initiative which distributes Smart Flo kits to Grade 8 girls. These kits provide them with access to high quality and environmentally friendly sanitary pads to preserve their dignity during menstruation. The team was out at New Eisleben High School in Nyanga today, 21 April 2026 and will be distributing more kits to girls at Oscar Mpetha High School in Nyanga on Thursday, 23 April 2026 .
The City’s Smart Flo programme provides education and awareness on the environmental impacts of using and disposing improper sanitary objects as well as reproductive health issues.
‘These Smart Flo kits and the environmental education that goes hand in hand with the distribution of them is so beneficial to these girls in our communities and addresses the social challenge of rags being used as substitution for commercial sanitary products.The programme assists the City in our efforts to educate residents on the detrimental knock on effects that the flushing of inappropriate items and materials has on our infrastructure and resources. This issue is reflective of broader socio-economic challenges, particularly in the low-income communities, I am therefore so encouraged that our teams were able to distribute these reusable sanitary products to Grade 8 girls this month as we believe it will truly assist them to manage their menstruation without shame, fear or interruption to their education,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
‘The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is proud to be have been a key partner in the roll out of the Smart Flo kits in Nyanga this month. The use of these reusable sanitary pads will result in a reduction of waste and a significant financial saving for these girls. The promotion of interventions such as this programme is essential at the moment as the City has been experiencing a rise in foreign objects being found as the cause of 61% of sewer blockages. Growing in prevalence has been washing rags, towels and single-use sanitary pads/tampons, which have been found to be severely detrimental to the sewer system infrastructure. The volumes of these towels are of concern due to the additional effort and resources it takes from our Water and Sanitation teams to clear these screens, sometimes up to three times a day to allow flow and prevent further damage,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
The City identified Gugulethu, Bellville South, Nyanga, Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Greenlands, Dunoon, Boston, Bishop Lavis, Kuyasa and Khayelitsha as the top ten suburbs where sewer blockages has been caused by rags.
The recipients of these Smart Flo Kits receive sanitary kits that will last them up to five years to support them with more sustainable sanitary options. Each kit includes the reusable sanitary pads and a cleaning kit which consists of a bucket; washing powder; soap; spirit vinegar and a menstrual health information brochure.
