Following community concerns regarding riverbank instability and halted infrastructure progress along the Geelsloot in Somerset West, the City of Cape Town officially confirmed that a major culvert beneath Aberdeen Road collapsed following severe weather earlier this year.

The confirmation comes as a follow-up to reports highlighting residents’ and environmental advocates’ frustration over riverbank erosion and structural setbacks affecting the area’s infrastructure (“Contrasting claims emerge over Geelsloot sewage rehabilitation progress“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 29 July).

Providing clarity on the incident, Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, explained that the structural failure was triggered by torrential weather.

“The collapse of the culvert beneath Aberdeen Road occurred following the excessive rainfall experienced in May,” Badroodien said.

“The resulting high stormwater flows caused erosion and undermining of the culvert structure, which led to its failure.”

In response to the collapse, municipal authorities have established a dedicated joint task team to manage the rehabilitation. The repair initiative will be executed as a collaborative effort between the City’s Catchment, Stormwater and River Management (CSRM) and Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) branches.

The required repairs are extensive and will include stormwater pipe replacement and extension, headwall reconstruction, channel reshaping and the installation of comprehensive erosion-protection measures to prevent future failures.

According to Badroodien, the project will commence between October and December, subject to the finalisation of planning and procurement processes.

Rainfall-related damage

“Timing the works for the drier period will reduce the risk of further rainfall-related damage and minimise potential disruptions during construction,” Badroodien noted.

The final cost of the repairs has not yet been determined as detailed designs and scope evaluations are still underway.

Addressing concerns over how the incident impacts broader municipal works in the area, the City emphasised that the repair of the collapsed culvert is an independent intervention and does not halt or alter the broader Geelsloot Upgrade Project.

Officials say the failure serves as a clear indicator of the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.

“It does highlight the importance of doing the planned Geelsloot Upgrade Project, intended to improve the capacity and resilience of the stormwater system and reduce the risk of similar failures and impacts during significant rainfall events,” Badroodien said.