City officials urge Khayelitsha residents to vacate structures over sewer line concerns

Officials from the City of Cape Town visited Khayelitsha SST section Town Two to encourage residents to vacate 40 structures which were illegally built on top of an 80mm bulk sewer line which requires maintenance.

Last week, the Cape Argus shared the plight of residents who said they felt that their call for assistance was falling on deaf ears while the local ward councillor said their hands were tied as officials due to criminals targeting them.

The issue arose last year when the sewer line first broke and the City said it submitted several requests for the removal of these structures and an appointment of an emergency contractor to carry out necessary repairs.

City’s Mayco Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien said the City is working to address the situation.

“The City of Cape Town is in discussions to encourage people to vacate 40 structures illegally built on top of an 800mm bulk sewer line requiring urgent maintenance. The sewer line runs under parts of SST and Wetland Informal Settlement in Khayelitsha,” he explained.

“Sinkholes have recently formed on sections of the 800mm bulk sewer, indicating that the pipe is compromised. The City’s Water and Sanitation teams are actively planning for repair work to begin as soon as unlawful occupants agree to enable access to the sewer line.”

Badroodien added that the 40 structures currently prevent teams from safely excavating and repairing the damaged sewer line below. 

“Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation’s contractor is already on the ground attending to the repairs of another damaged 150mm diameter sewer pipe, including the damaged manhole on the 800mm diameter bulk sewer mainline in the Wetlands Informal Settlement.”

He said officials have worked behind the scenes, filling the sinkholes with milling material to prevent further damage in Wetland Informal Settlement.

Badroodien recently visited the community to inspect the sinkholes. “During my inspection, together with the Ward Councillor, we identified at least 40 structures that need to be moved to enable the necessary machinery to access the sinkholes,” he told Cape Argus.

“A number of the structures have already been emptied, and those residents still living in the affected structures are encouraged to evacuate so that teams can gain entry to the pipe and start the repair work to ensure broader public safety. “

He said they continued to heed the call to residents not to build in an essential services servitude or in storm water retention ponds, as these areas are vital for public safety and the proper functioning of essential infrastructure.

Earlier, in a statement issued, Roscoe Palm, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor, criticised the city’s failure to repair the damage, claiming there were at least eight such incidents reported. Palm called for an investigation to be launched to determine whether this phenomenon threatens more homes and lives.

Ward councillor, Thando Pimpi, said their hands were tied as by officials because crime also played a factor, which prevented officials visiting the site.

Town Two leadership, Ntombekhaya Mayongo, confirmed that officials had visited the site.

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Cape Argus