Vygekraal Catchment Management Forum Aims to Improve Water Quality

A new chapter in collaborative water management has begun with the launch of the Vygekraal Catchment Management Forum (V-CMF), which held its inaugural meeting on 27 May 2025 at Athlone Stadium. As one of three forums under the broader Salt River Catchment, the V-CMF is designed to promote community-led action and practical solutions to the water quality challenges affecting this vital urban river system.

The V-CMF aims to strengthen community engagement in the protection and improvement of river health. It will focus on addressing urban pollution in local watercourses, promoting sustainable river management and raising awareness about the impacts of flooding and the potential for flood alleviation within the catchment.

The Vygekraal sub-catchment includes several key waterways and communities. The Blomvlei Canal flows through Hanover Park, Penlyn Estate and Rylands; the Bokmakierie Canal through Hazendal, Athlone and Bokmakierie; and the Vygekraal River itself flows through Gugulethu, Manenberg and Bridgetown.

This catchment faces several environmental challenges, including frequent flooding, illegal dumping into canals and stormwater systems, and the ongoing degradation of the Vygekraal, Blomvlei and Bokmakierie waterways. These issues contribute significantly to the declining water quality in the broader Salt River system.

The primary drivers of pollution in the Vygekraal catchment include high levels of urban informality, illegal solid waste dumping, greywater and blackwater discharge into the river system, and pump station failures leading to overflows. The inaugural V-CMF meeting saw active participation from community members and stakeholders, culminating in the election of the forum’s first executive committee. Haroun Parker was elected Chairperson and Ebrahim Rhoda as Vice-Chairperson.
‘I’d like to thank residents for taking a keen interest in our waterways and attending this inaugural meeting. The V-CMF will serve as a local platform for coordination and collective response to the many challenges facing the catchment. It allows issues to be identified and addressed before they escalate into crises. I look forward to inviting the newly-elected executive of the V-CMF on a river walk, so we can experience first-hand the challenges faced in the catchment. The establishment of this forum marks a significant step in our strategic commitment to preserving and enhancing Cape Town’s watercourses,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

In 2024, the Water and Sanitation Directorate developed a comprehensive Pollution Abatement Strategy and Action Plan (PASAP), which outlines a detailed understanding of the Salt River catchment, including Vygekraal, and the ambient water quality of its rivers. The PASAP identifies the main sources of pollution and provides a structured action plan to address them through coordinated and sustained intervention.