Residents living along the banks of the Lourens River, particularly between Main Road and Andries Pretorius Street in Bridgewater, have reached breaking point.
What was once a scenic waterway has reportedly transformed into a hub for criminal activity, illegal dumping and aggressive homelessness, leaving locals feeling like prisoners in their own homes.
The situation is particularly dire for a neighbouring residential complex, where the average age of occupants is 72. Residents report constant harassment and noise as individuals move through the area at all times.
“They start begging and harassing people in our complex as soon as they see someone,” one resident shared, highlighting the use of “trolley-bath” contraptions – old bathtubs mounted on shopping trolley frames – used to transport and sort stolen plastic bags.
The remains of the bags are allegedly often discarded along the river banks, leaving residents to manage the clean-up.
The persistent threat of break-ins has forced homeowners to take drastic measures. One complex recently replaced 110m of traditional mesh fencing with high-security fencing after several break-ins.
Frequent entreaties to Law Enforcement have not been met with great response, hampered perhaps by budget and manpower constraints. “By the time they get here, the damage is done,” a local alleged.
The City of Cape Town has provided several updates regarding the management of this stretch of the Lourens River.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, confirmed active measures are underway, including litter removal last month.
A dedicated team is currently working along the Lourens River to address ongoing littering and illegal dumping concerns. A planned maintenance project to clear invasive and overgrown vegetation is scheduled to commence on 16 March. In addition to planned stormwater works, reactive maintenance interventions will continue to be implemented as and when required to address emerging issues.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for City Law Enforcement, acknowledged the challenges.
“Officers have responded to various calls over the past six months and enforced various municipal bylaws at the location. The matter is receiving attention and the Law Enforcement Department has initiated meetings with other City departments to find a sustainable solution.”
Addressing calls for improved lighting in the area, the City said: “The City’s street lighting policy allows only for streetlights to be installed along a public road or where a walkway is attached to a public road along the walkway.”
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