Cape Town: The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town is committed to complete the multi-million-rand Bayside Canal upgrade in Milnerton. Work on site was suspended temporarily in November 2024 due to a contractual dispute with the appointed contractor.
Reportedly, the team is putting efforts to resolve the matter and resume construction of the project currently underway. The City of Cape Town is committed to reach a negotiated, amicable settlement of the dispute so that the work can continue on site. Approx. 55% of the project has been completed to date.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien said that it is important that public funds are used responsibly and for this reason, the negotiations are being dealt with as quickly and thoughtfully as possible.
It is one of the crucial investments of the City of Cape Town which will contribute to improved water quality within Rietvlei and surrounds. The given ongoing development sees that the upgrade is essential to accommodate increased stormwater flow during peak rainfall and to tackle the significant litter and pollution that enters Rietvlei via the stormwater system.
City of Cape Town has taken steps to mitigate flood risks in the area. Following heavy rainfall received on April 08, 2025, led to flooding along Blaauwberg Road, the canal adjacent to the road and approx. 30 metres of the Bayside Canal were cleared to improve stormwater flow ahead of the winter season.
Also, works were undertaken during the suspension period. The contractor removed the temporary berm and bypass trench on April 24, 2025 in line with contractual obligations to assist with drainage.
Furthermore, City conducted an inspection on April 27, 2025 where it was determined that the water level at the control weir was at about 2.1m and 0.9m in the Rietvlei. A slight drop in water levels since April 08, 2025 suggests a blockage between the lower section of the proposed bypass canal and Rietvlei.
The city will address this through its repair and maintenance contractors survey, as the existing flow channel to determine current water levels and the location of the obstruction, deploy a long-boom excavator to clear the blockage and stockpile the excavated material adjacent to the channel.
Notably, the stormwater canal to the primary sedimentation ponds and the bypass canal from the secondary treatment channel to the Rietvlei will be constructed, once the work starts again.