A dispute over the state of the Soet River has arisen between a group of Helderberg residents and the City of Cape Town.
Community leaders are accusing the municipality of neglect and unequal service delivery. City officials, however, maintain that the environmental clean-up project is ongoing.
The Helderberg Residents Concern Group (HRCG) claims that the Rusthof community and surrounding areas are disillusioned. For the past nine months since the project’s launch, residents have apparently endured a persistent stench and pest infestations caused by built-up reeds and silt.
According to the HRCG, community representatives have repeatedly engaged municipal departments to propose strategies to curb river pollution. One such proposal, endorsed by the Mayoral Committee, suggested doubling rubbish collection in Rusthof and increasing waste removal in Lwandle and Nomzamo to twice a week.
But the group alleges that the proposals were never implemented, deepening distrust.
The HRCG also criticised ward councillors for their absence from key meetings. They claim to have proposed replacing the Soet River with an underground canal from Broadway Boulevard to the Naomi Street canal connection but say they have not received confirmation that the proposal was submitted to Subcouncil 8.
The group’s frustration is further fuelled by allegations of service inequality.
DEMANDING ACTION
“The City has spent thousands of rands cleaning the river on the Greenways side to keep the stench away from that residential area,” the HRCG stated in a letter. “This shows that Strand residents live in two different worlds. The in service delivery is unacceptable.”
At a recent meeting, officials reportedly admitted to operational challenges, including defective equipment and insufficient trucks, leaving an estimated 70% of reeds and silt clogging the river. The community is now demanding a public apology from the City and a face-to-face meeting with the mayor.
In response, Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, denied claims of neglect or favoritism. He clarified that the reed and sludge removal project is ongoing and that remaining stockpiles are scheduled for removal. He also explained that some reeds were intentionally left intact to comply with environmental regulations.
Addressing allegations regarding Greenways Estate, Badroodien stated that the estate funds its own bioremediation and river cleaning entirely at its own cost.
He argued that public resources are disproportionately allocated to Rusthof, Broadlands Village, Nomzamo and Lwandle, where the City spends significantly more time and money.
Badroodien confirmed that a feasibility study for enclosing sections of the Soet River has been completed, with design development pending budget approvals, environmental screening and coordination with Sanral’s N2 realignment project.
Regarding the failed implementation of increased refuse collection, Badroodien acknowledged that high waste volumes were flagged and a formal recommendation has been submitted to assess whether Urban Waste Management can do more collections.
The City urged the HRCG and Rusthof residents to remain patient while technical teams assess whether the increased waste collection service is logistically possible to deploy.
