Cape Town: The City has completed the main repair works on the Makhaza bulk sewer in Khayelitsha at Umrhabulo Triangle. The project has now entered in its final phase. A CCTV inspection of the repairs has been followed that has showed positive preliminary results. After months of complex construction work, the project includes replacing a 45-metre section of collapsed pipeline eight metres below the ground level.
Reportedly, the scale and complexity of the project required is considerable technical and financial resources. It is an extensive excavation and careful planning, made to maintain wastewater services while repairs were underway.
The City of Cape Town has installed a temporary bypass system consisting of almost two kilometres of above-ground pipeline, for wastewater conveyance to continue throughout construction. It helps to minimise service disruptions and reduce the risk of sewer overflows. As part of the final quality assurance process, City engineers performed a CCTV inspection of the repaired sewer line on Thursday, June 18, 2026 to assess the internal condition and confirmed the structural integrity of the pipeline.
Preliminary findings from this inspection indicates that the project was successful, as the repaired section performed as expected. The footage will now be reviewed by specialists as part of the final verification process. A few minor project works are being finalised, that includes bulk cleaning of the sewer line, removing the temporary bypass infrastructure and sheet piling, followed by site reinstatement in the coming weeks.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that they recently conducted an oversight visit, as they are maintaining essential sanitation infrastructure, which is fundamental to deliver reliable services to communities across Cape Town.
According to Badroodien, completion of the bulk sewer repairs in Makhaza represents far more than an engineering achievement. It is about restoring dignity and delivering the reliable sanitation services that every family in Khayelitsha deserves.
He further said that he wants to make a direct appeal to residents. The space cleared to carry out these repairs must not be re-occupied. The dangers that made this intervention necessary in the first place have not disappeared, and informal structures were built on top of bulk sewer infrastructure. This place lives at risk while preventing the City of Cape Town from maintaining and accessing the line.
Cllr Badroodien added that they asked residents to respect the cleared area and to recognise that protecting this infrastructure is what guarantees the continued services on which the whole community depends.