City crews are hard at work at the Bayside Canal in Table View, pushing ahead with construction and maintenance as winter approaches and the risk of flooding increases.
TygerBurger recently visited the site, where work has been ongoing since the project officially resumed in October 2025. The multi-million-rand Bayside Canal upgrade first got underway last year, but was temporarily suspended in November 2024 after about 55% of the work had been completed due to a contractual dispute with the appointed contractor.
The City followed due legal processes to resolve the matter, which was concluded in June 2025, allowing construction to resume after the winter season.
READ MORE: https://novanews.co.za/tygerburger/work-at-the-bayside-canal-in-table-view-halted-20250212/
Residents welcome visible progress
Residents living near the canal say they are relieved to see steady progress this year, particularly as heavy rains typically bring flooding concerns.
“Every winter we worry about how high the water is going to rise,” said Linda Engelbrecht, a long-time Table View resident. “Seeing the crews back and working before the worst rains come makes a big difference to our peace of mind.”
Sam Petersen, who uses the area regularly, said the increased activity is noticeable. “This year there’s definitely more happening than before. You can see the work progressing, which gives us hope that flooding won’t be as bad as in the past.”
Flooding and pollution remain concerns
Concerns around pollution and litter entering Rietvlei remain top of mind for many residents.
“When the storms come, rubbish just gets washed straight into the vlei,” said Ayesha Khan, who lives nearby. “If this upgrade helps stop that and improves water quality it will benefit the whole area.”
Another resident, James van Wyk, said the upgrade is long overdue given the growth in surrounding developments. “There’s much more runoff now than there used to be. The canal has to cope with that, otherwise we’ll keep dealing with flooding every year.”
City highlights long-term benefits
According to the City of Cape Town, the Bayside Canal upgrade is one of its key investments aimed at improving water quality in Rietvlei and strengthening stormwater infrastructure.
“It’s crucial that work on this upgrade can progress, as this is one of the City’s key investments to improve water quality within Rietvlei and its surrounds,” said Mayco member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien.
“As development within the catchment has grown, there is a need to make improvements to the Bayside Canal to enable it to handle increased stormwater flows during peak periods, and to tackle litter and pollution entering Rietvlei through stormwater channels.”
READ MORE: https://novanews.co.za/tygerburger/work-on-bayside-canal-upgrade-to-continue-in-october/
Focus areas as work moves ahead
Construction currently focuses on sections of the stormwater canal leading to the primary sedimentation ponds, as well as the bypass canal from the secondary treatment channel to Rietvlei.
With winter fast approaching, residents say they are hopeful that the work already under way will help reduce flooding risks this season, while the continued upgrade promises longer-term improvements for water quality and environmental health in the area.
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