As winter approaches, the City of Cape Town’s water and sanitation directorate has begun proactive repair projects along the Kuils River and in Khayelitsha to reduce the risk of flooding.
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The Kuils River, a prominent tributary of the Eerste River, flows east of Kanonkop in Durbanville.
The river travels approximately 30 kilometres and passes through Khayelitsha, Sandvlei and Mfuleni. Residents in and around these areas face devastating floods almost every year.
The City stated that it prioritised the project because the 2023 floods had displaced hundreds of families.
According to the City, it wants to protect residents from floods and mitigate their effects, which frequently entails moving impacted homes.
Zahid Badroodien, a Mayco member for water and sanitation, stated that the project’s significance extended beyond immediate flood prevention.
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He said it would be critical to future development in the area.
‘Continuous assessments will be conducted to determine if further maintenance work is necessary, underscoring the City’s commitment to addressing the community’s needs and ensuring long-term resilience against flooding,’ he said.
The current phase of work involves dredging the river to remove silt and deepen its bed, as well as constructing sand berms along its banks.
Meanwhile, maintenance work at the Khayelitsha Wetland aims to address the recurring issue of flooding that has affected the communities of Qandu Qandu, BM Section, and Greenpoint.
The project is expected to cost R450 000, and the hope is that it will follow the example of a similar City project completed during the fiscal year 2021/22.
The Sandvlei United Community Organisation (Suco) stated that not enough was being done to mitigate the high flood risk in and around their community.
According to the organisation’s Maryam Manuel, services should not just appear in their community after a flood or storm.
‘Last year, we were stranded without food or water due to the bridge’s fragility. Therefore, we urge the City to strengthen the bridge and provide an emergency exit and entrance for our community members,’ she told IOL.
Manuel expressed appreciation for the City’s annual flood readiness plans but pleaded for collaboration.
‘We are willing to assist in any way we can to preserve human lives. Let us not allow politics to interfere with the safety and well-being of our community members,’ she said.
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