The City of Cape Town is once again racing to address sewer infrastructure failures along Montague Drive in Montague Gardens, after a new sinkhole was reported just weeks after another collapse was discovered in the area.
Local Ward councillor Anthony Benadie visited the site last week, meeting with contractors and City officials to discuss the latest incident. He confirmed that while previous sinkholes higher up the road have been fully repaired, the latest issues are new and caused by the corrosion of ageing asbestos piping.
“It is very important for the community to understand that this is not the same sinkhole as before,” Benadie explained. “These are new sinkholes that have developed over time. The City can only carry out point repairs here at this stage, not a full reconstruction of the sewer line. We urge residents to be patient, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution when driving in the area.”
Due to the high risk of further collapse, a section of Montague Drive has been cordoned off, with traffic expected to be affected, particularly during peak hours.
Safety and procurement process
As TygerBurger reported last week, the City confirmed that repairs on the latest sewer collapse cannot begin until all internal safety and procurement processes have been completed. The collapse occurred last month (July) when a 900mm bulk sewer line gave way — the 13th such incident since August 2023.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation, said critical documentation is being finalised to ensure safety before physical repairs begin.
“Work will start as soon as processes such as the tender scope, deviation report, purchase order process, and Health and Safety Specification and Risk Assessments are completed,” he said. “No work may start without these safety measures in place to protect all stakeholders, including the public.”
The 50-year-old fibre cement pipeline, buried five metres underground, has been repeatedly damaged by sulphuric acid corrosion and infrastructure fatigue. Emergency crews have secured the site and are monitoring it closely to prevent environmental damage to the nearby Milnerton Lagoon.
Disruptions
Since last year, Montague Drive has experienced ongoing closures and disruptions due to sewer collapses, affecting traffic and local businesses. These repeated failures have intensified calls for the City’s R470 million Milnerton Bulk Sewer Upgrade Project, currently underway.
Phase 1 of the upgrade — the installation of a new parallel sewer line — is in progress. Phase 2, scheduled to start in March 2025, will use trenchless technology to reduce surface disruption.
“These collapses are exactly why the upgrade project is essential,” said Badroodien. “We are working with urgency to stabilise the area and ensure long-term resilience for our infrastructure.”
