The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate remains committed to completing the multi-million rand Bayside Canal upgrade in Milnerton. Work on site was temporarily suspended in November 2024 due to a contractual dispute with the appointed contractor. Efforts are currently under way to resolve the matter and resume construction.
The City is committed to reaching a negotiated, amicable settlement of the dispute so that work can continue on site. To date, approximately 55% of the project has been completed.
‘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. This is one of the City’s crucial investments which will contribute to improved water quality within Rietvlei and surrounds. Given ongoing development in the catchment, 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,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
In the interim, the City has taken steps to mitigate flood risks in the area. Following heavy rainfall on 8 April 2025, which led to flooding along Blaauwberg Road, the canal adjacent to the road and approximately 30 metres of the Bayside Canal were cleared to improve stormwater flow ahead of the winter season.
Additional works were also undertaken during the suspension period. On 24 April 2025, the contractor removed the temporary berm and bypass trench, in line with contractual obligations, to assist with drainage.
The City conducted an inspection on 27 April 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 8 April 2025 suggests a blockage between the lower section of the proposed bypass canal and Rietvlei. To address this, the City will, through its repair and maintenance contractors survey 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.
Once work starts again, the stormwater canal to the primary sedimentation ponds and the bypass canal from the secondary treatment channel to the Rietvlei will be constructed.
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