Cape Town: Emergency repairs to the collapsed 700mm bulk sewer pipeline in Khayelitsha are progressing well. Especially in the SST section and Makhaza (Umrhabulo Triangle). The City of Cape Town thanked residents for their patience and understanding as teams work to restore safe and reliable sewer services.
Reportedly, residents were moved from the collapsed areas after the appointed emergency contractor of the City of Cape Town moved on site at the two major collapse points in Khayelitsha’s SST section and Makhaza. There preparatory work is under way ahead of the two-point repairs to the 700mm bulk sewer line.
This includes installing a complex 400mm high-density polyethylene (HDPE) above-ground sewer by-pass spanning about 2000m (2km). The purpose of this by-pass is to keep wastewater flowing while the collapsed section is repaired. It ensured that sewer services can continue during construction on the bulk sewer line.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that the work has now commenced at both sites, with teams working to complete the repairs as safely and efficiently as possible. So that dignity and decent living conditions can be restored for residents in the affected areas.
According to Badroodien, this collapse has once again highlighted how interconnected the sewer network is, and how a problem in one area can have knock-on effects across several communities. It remains a shared responsibility between the City and residents to protect and maintain this critical infrastructure.
He added that these infrastructures should continue to serve communities reliably for years to come. They again urged residents not to build structures illegally over vital water and sewer infrastructure. “We appeal to the community for continued cooperation as this complex work continues,” said Cllr Zahid Badroodien.
Notably, all sites where water and sanitation repairs and upgrades are conducted are active construction sites and are therefore off-limits to the public.