Efforts to restore roads, pavements and driveways across Cape Town are gaining traction as the City verified and attended to more than 5 000 of approximately 7 000 long-standing trench reinstatement cases, while taking decisive steps to strengthen contractor performance.
This is improving visibility of the backlog and ensures that work is carried out more efficiently across the metro. Reinstatements are required after essential underground water and sanitation repairs, where trenches must be opened to access pipelines before road surfaces, pavements and driveways can be restored.
Targeted plan
A targeted plan is under way to address reinstatements through two complementary initiatives: The Breakaway Project focusing on clearing the historical backlog and the other by using internal and external staff to supplement day-to-day operations.
Following the industry-wide builder’s break over the festive season, contractors have returned to full operational capacity to action trench reinstatements.
The City has also taken firm steps to improve delivery performance, strengthening contractor accountability to ensure work is delivered to the required standards and within agreed timeframes. The Breakaway Project continues to focus on tackling approximately 7 000 long-standing reinstatement notifications that fall outside the Service Level Agreement (SLA) timeframe, particularly in areas with the highest backlogs.
Measured
To date, 75% (5 225) of the ring-fenced reinstatement notifications have been verified and measured on site to confirm whether reinstatement work is required. This verification process includes site inspections, measurements and record checks, providing the City with the clearest picture yet of the true extent of the historical backlog.
Verification and measurement of the remaining reinstatements is expected to be completed by April 2026. Work packages under the Breakaway Project continue to progress, with Work Packages One and Two now complete. A sixth work package is scheduled to be issued in March 2026 and will cover areas including Malibu, Sarepta, Kuils River, Blue Downs, Belhar, Blackheath, Eerste River, Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay, Khayelitsha and Delft.
“The verification process has been a critical step in ensuring that resources are directed to genuine outstanding reinstatements. It allows teams to work more efficiently while improving oversight and accountability. At the same time, we are strengthening contractor performance to ensure that work is completed to standard and within the required timeframes. These combined efforts are helping us to steadily work through the backlog while improving systems to prevent new backlogs from forming. Thank you to our residents for their patience during this time,” said the City’s Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien.
Reinstatement work continues across multiple suburbs as part of the ongoing programme. Planned work in the coming weeks will take place in areas including Bergvliet, Plumstead, Diep River, Elfindale, Heathfield, Meadowridge, Southfield, Wynberg, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Ottery, Seawinds, Grassy Park, Glencairn, Simon’s Town, Muizenberg, Retreat, Steenberg, Tokai, Parkwood and Ocean View.
The City thanks residents for their patience as teams continue restoring roads, pavements and driveways safely and efficiently across Cape Town.
