A petition by residents of the Helderberg district has brought to light a growing conflict with the City of Cape Town over a proposed flood-alleviation project in the Geelsloot catchment area, citing environmental degradation.
According to the City, the project is vital for protecting infrastructure and ecosystems, but residents argue it’s a flawed plan that ignores a persistent and dangerous sewage problem, against “City ambitions to prioritise vanity projects”, ignoring that basic service delivery is adequately maintained.
The petition, signed by residents and stakeholders, expresses support for the City’s goal of mitigating stormwater flooding through the Geelsloot Upgrade Project (Projects 5 and 7). However, it strongly objects to the project’s continuation until long-standing sewage issues are prioritised and resolved.
The group notes that raw sewage has been polluting the Geelsloot since 2018, the most recent spills leading to a formal complaint to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.
The Geelsloot upgrade involves the municipality rehabilitating the ponds in Somerset West to reduce stormwater volumes and flooding risk.
Contamination Fears
Key aspects of the project include building a new detention pond, improving eroded channels, installing erosion protection, upgrading stormwater culverts, creating a circular pathway and adding parallel-parking bays. Construction is expected to begin in November this year.
“Without first addressing the sewage problem the proposed catchment dams risk becoming reservoirs of untreated sewage, with potential severe consequences for human health, environmental sustainability and property values.”
Rod Keyser, a resident living opposite John Rumble Park, also voiced his objection, focusing on technical issues.
He is concerned that the planned attenuation ponds would change the character of the park, restrict public access and potentially put houses in the area at flood risk. “I am concerned that no alternative plans were considered,” he said.
Concerns Mount
The community highlights the dire environmental consequences of the pollution, including the degradation of plant and animal life.
The Geelsloot flows into a sensitive ecological network, including the Lourens River Protected Natural Environment, the Paardevlei Wetlands and the Helderberg Marine Protected Area before flushing into the ocean in Strand, primarily recreational water nodes for surfing and swimming.
Jamii Hamlin, a lifelong surfer, local water-quality advocate, Friends of Paardevlei co-founder and Helderberg Ratepayers’ Association Environmental representative who participates in many City forums, also voiced his concerns.
“We are deeply concerned by the negative impact of water quality on our collective community and have ambitions to establish a Blue Flag beach at Strand with a water quality flag system forecast to provide residents or tourist accessible water quality fluctuations status updates, as upstream contamination from Geelsloot or Ou Trappies overflows and discharges from the 23 waste water treatment plants around the City are under-performing and impacting water quality, which has led to several hospital admissions for local recreational water users,” he explained.
A Parel Vallei resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also aired her frustration: “We are so fed up with the City’s deflective excuses and lack of resolution… again this weekend without any rain to cause water ingress, the sewage overflowed from Nassau Avenue into Geelsloot. The City can’t justify increasing levies without any improvement in service delivery… This ailing sewage system must be upgraded to service the community before any flood-alleviation project can be considered.”
Councillor Karl Bodin of the Cape Independence Party (CAPEXIT) revealed that he has been engaging with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regarding the sewage leaks since April, without success. “I’ve held site meetings, but responses so far have been slow and without substance,” he said.
He has since been in direct contact with the DWS and requested a formal notice be issued to the City to pressure it into attending to the sewage issues.
Call For Probes
Bodin also reported the matter to the Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs), commonly known as the Green Scorpions, who enforce environmental legislation in the Western Cape. He has requested that they provide the approved environmental impact assessment for the upgrade project, which he believes ignores the sewage contamination at Geelsloot. “Action will come as a result of these investigations,” he assured.
In a response, Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, acknowledged residents’ concerns and offered clarifications.
“The issue with tree roots causing blockages is being addressed as it arises, as it is quite prevalent in the area,” he said, adding that the City has an action plan to address infrastructure issues, which includes manhole repairs and proactive cleaning of sewer lines. He claimed the most recent service request for a sewage spill on Tuesday 5 August was resolved the next day.
Regarding environmental rehabilitation, Badroodien confirmed the project included a detailed landscaping plan and full-stream rehabilitation. He noted a 3D visualisation of these plans was shared at a public-participation meeting in June last year.
Construction is currently in the detailed design phase and all contractors would be required to comply with a legally binding Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Badroodien added.
‘Trust Deficit’
The petition also raised concerns about a lack of transparency and community engagement, citing no clear timeline for construction or mitigation plans. The residents are calling on the City to immediately resolve sewage infrastructure deficiencies before proceeding with the flood project; release a timeline and plan for sewage upgrades, including funding and milestones; provide clear environmental rehabilitation plans; and engage in meaningful consultation with residents before any construction begins.
Despite the City’s claims of ongoing engagement through public meetings and forums, the residents’ petition suggests a significant trust deficit. As a Lourens River Catchment Management Forum participant, Hamlin raised concerns to the draft management plan of Lourens River Protected Protected Natural Environment. “The offset between the City’s perceived ambitions of service delivery versus the user experience is a contrasting reality with informal settlements, vagrants, ailing infrastructure, water contamination and litter all contributing to the degradation of our natural biodiversity and recreational enjoyment,” he said.
The Geelsloot journeys through the “leafy suburbs”, two golf courses, into three nature reserve areas, and ultimately flushes into Strand Beach. It has far-reaching implications for both the environment enjoyment and public health risks.
Badroodien concluded: “The Geelsloot Upgrade Project is essential to reduce flooding risks, restore the stream environment and protect both infrastructure and biodiversity. The City is committed to implementing the project responsibly, with full environmental safeguards.”
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