Only one sewer collapse along Montague Drive in Montague Gardens has been fully repaired since last year, the City of Cape Town has confirmed, while contractors are currently excavating at two other collapse sites following the latest sinkhole reported in July last year.
As TygerBurger previously reported, the City said repairs on the latest sewer collapse could not begin immediately, as all internal safety assessments and procurement processes needed to be completed first.
The most recent collapse occurred in July, when a 900mm bulk sewer line gave way – marking the 13th sewer failure recorded along this stretch since August 2023. The damaged pipeline is a 50-year-old fibre cement sewer, buried approximately five metres underground.
According to the City, the infrastructure has been repeatedly compromised by sulphuric acid corrosion and long-term infrastructure fatigue.
Emergency crews have secured the affected area and are closely monitoring the site to prevent any environmental contamination of the nearby Milnerton Lagoon.
Ongoing disruptions for road users and businesses
Montague Drive has experienced repeated closures and traffic disruptions since last year as a result of the collapses, impacting both motorists and local businesses operating in the industrial area.
When TygerBurger visited the site yesterday, a local business owner said the ongoing sewer collapses and road closures have taken a heavy toll over the past year. “We’ve lost clients because trucks and customers can’t get through when the road is closed,” said Ahmed Davids, who runs a business along Montague Drive. “This has been going on since last year, and every new collapse sets us back again. We understand the work needs to be done, but the uncertainty has really hurt our operations.”
The ongoing failures have intensified calls for the completion of the City’s R470 million Milnerton Bulk Sewer Upgrade Project, which is currently underway.
Phase 1 of the project – the installation of a new parallel sewer line – is in progress. Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in March 2025, will make use of trenchless technology in an effort to limit surface disruption along the busy route.
“These collapses are exactly why the upgrade project is essential,” said the City’s mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien.
“We are working with urgency to stabilise the area and ensure long-term resilience for our infrastructure,” he added.
