Residents and local business owners in Somerset West continue to complain of a recurring stench and environmental hazards plaguing the Geelsloot, a local anti-flood water-catchment infrastructure.
Following a persistent two-week sewage spill that impacted local commerce and the environment, the City of Cape Town has reassured the public a massive R7,59 million rehabilitation project is set to start later this month.
The latest crisis centred on a blocked sewer pipe on the corner of Alpha and Cyprus streets.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, said while the blockage has since been cleared, an investigation into why it went undetected revealed a troubling discovery – an unauthorised overflow channel.
Badroodien explained that the delay was caused by a “cross-connection” where the overflow channel had been opened into the stormwater system. As the sewage was being diverted underground rather than surfacing immediately, the blockage remained hidden until a 1,5 km search from Stellendal Road located the source.
Jamii Hamlin, a prominent water-quality advocate, said while the announcement of the upgrades is welcomed, it is “long overdue”. “The acknowledgement by Councillor Badroodien to the apparent ‘cross-connection’ fault confirms the sustained complaints by residents since 2018 were warranted,” he said.
Hamlin further emphasised the upgrade does not absolve the authorities of past failures. “This doesn’t dismiss the Western Cape Government’s Environmental Law Enforcement investigations for accountability to environmental custodianship,” he pointed out. “A functioning sewage system should have been prioritised ahead of the Geelsloot Alleviation Project, which has seen its environmental impact assessment (EIA) provisionally withdrawn.”
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette reported on the provisional withdrawal last year (“Environmental concerns force pause on Geelsloot infrastructure,” 26 November 2025).
At the end of this month, the City will implement the Geelsloot project, using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining. This technology allows for the rehabilitation of more than 3 300 m of sewer pipe without extensive trenching. Impacted areas include Watersmeet, Stella, Aberdeen, Nassau, Dummer, Preller, Irene and Pinecroft streets as well as Jakaranda Road.
Hamlin raised technical concerns about the long-term impact of the specific technology on the network’s volume. “With further upstream development and water ingress that is often blamed, the size of the existing network will actually reduce flow capacity volume with the CIPP lining,” he explained.
“Hopefully, without roots or debris causing blockages, these upgrades will improve overall network efficiency.”
To address the immediate “foul odour” lingering behind Stellendal Road, City teams have flushed the stormwater system twice and applied odour-neutralising pine powder. But locals remain anxious about future spills.
Hamlin pointed to the Ou Trappies CIPP upgrades, which resulted in a NEMA Section 30 Notice erected on Strand Beach at the Wilberforce stormwater outlet due to fluctuating discharges and health risks. To mitigate similar issues here, a community liaison officer (CLO) is expected to be appointed for the contract period.
The pending appointment of a CLO will likely improve community communication and address the anxiety regarding further inconveniences or work overflow downstream pollution.
Badroodien maintained that infrastructure is only one part of the equation, stressing that the primary cause of the Alpha Street blockage was illegal dumping and foreign objects. “In the long-term, we need residents to assist in keeping the sewers free from foreign objects by refraining from illegal dumping and not using the sewer network as a waste bin,” he said.
As winter approaches, the City has begun “winter readiness” jetting and pump station maintenance ahead of the rainy season.
