Construction on the City of Cape Town’s R110 million Bayside Canal upgrade project in Table View is once again in full swing, with work progressing after delays caused by a contractual dispute last year.
The large-scale infrastructure project stretches from Blaauwberg Road to the Rietvlei and is designed to improve stormwater management, reduce flooding risks and improve the quality of water flowing into one of Cape Town’s most important wetlands.
According to the City, around 55% of the project had already been completed before construction was temporarily suspended. Work resumed on site in October and completion is targeted for mid-2026.
Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation, said the site is now fully operational again.
“This is our Bayside Canal project here in the Table View area and this is part of our efforts to reduce the risk of flooding but also to try and clean up some of the stormwater that runs down from the Parklands Table View area before it enters the Rietvlei,” he said.
“This is an important R110 million project that did experience a small delay but thankfully the teams were able to work through that challenge and at the moment the site is now a live active construction area with people physically doing the necessary work to try and get this project complete by at least the middle of next year.”
Protecting the Rietvlei ecosystem
The upgrade comes as rapid development in Parklands and Table View continues to place pressure on stormwater infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
During periods of heavy rainfall, increased runoff carries litter, sediment and pollution into the Rietvlei, threatening the health of the wetland ecosystem.
The project includes lining canal side slopes to handle stronger water flows, installing floating litter booms to trap waste before it reaches the Rietvlei, and creating sedimentation ponds and treatment channels that naturally filter stormwater.
Reed bed ponds will also be introduced to further improve water quality before water enters the wetland system.
Badroodien said early signs have been encouraging despite recent rainfall.
“I’m excited because even with the small little bit of rain that we’ve received so far this project site has withstood those tests and certainly when it’s complete it’s going to yield those very necessary positive outcomes that we hope will come with this intervention,” he said.
Building a water-sensitive city
City officials say the Bayside Canal project forms part of Cape Town’s broader vision of becoming a more water-sensitive city where infrastructure development and environmental protection work together.
Dedicated maintenance access areas are also being built to ensure the canal system can be properly maintained in the long term.
The Rietvlei, regarded as one of Cape Town’s most ecologically significant wetlands, is expected to benefit significantly once the upgrade is completed.
