Cape Town: Construction work at Rietvlei is live and is progressing well. The Bayside Canal upgradation work in Table View is one of those projects that gets to the heart of what it means to build a city responsibly. It is worth R110 million project.
Reportedly, a canal system stretching from Blaauwberg Road to the Rietvlei. And a commitment that, despite a contractual dispute that paused construction late last year, has not wavered.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that, this is their Bayside canal project here in the Table View area. It is part of the move to reduce the risk of flooding, but also to try to capture some of the stormwater from the Parklands Table View area before it enters the Rietvlei.
He added that this is a major R110 million project that has experienced a small change, but thankfully the teams have had the opportunity to work through that challenge. At the moment the site is now a live active construction area with people physically doing the hard work to try to get this project completed by at least the middle of next year.
Cllr Badroodien said, “I am excited, because even with the little bit of rain we have had so far, this project site has replaced the tests and certainly when it is complete, it is about the very necessary positive outcomes that we hope this intervention will bring.”
Where Things Stand Right Now
Work resumed on site this October, it is a fully active construction zone. People are working on the ground with equipment moving and progress is being made. After roughly 55% of the project was completed before the suspension, the remaining scope is now being tackled, and the target for completion is by at least mid-2026.
Why This Project Matters
The Parklands and Table View catchment area has grown significantly over the years. With that growth comes increased stormwater runoff during peak rainfall, and that runoff carries litter, sediment, and pollution directly into the Rietvlei. This upgrade addresses both challenges head-on. The project has a great scope, that includes:
- Lining the canal’s side slopes to handle increased flow.
- Floating litter booms to intercept solid waste before it reaches the Rietvlei.
- Primary sedimentation ponds and a secondary treatment channel to naturally filter stormwater.
- Reed bed ponds for further water quality improvement.
- A bypass canal from the secondary treatment channel to the Rietvlei.
- Dedicated maintenance access laydown areas for the long term.
This is not just infrastructure. It is a system designed to mimic and support natural water treatment processes, while giving the teams proper access to maintain it for years to come.
The Bigger Picture
Even with the early rains Cape Town have already received this season, the site has held. That is encouraging, when complete, this upgrade will contribute meaningfully to the City’s goal of becoming a genuinely water-sensitive city, one where development and environmental stewardship grow together, not at each other’s expense.
The Rietvlei is one of Cape Town’s most ecologically significant wetlands. It deserves better than what unchecked urban runoff has been sending into it. This project is part of how city has begin to make that right.