The broader Milnerton community says the City of Cape Town’s leadership has left the community in the lurch at a crucial stakeholder meeting to discuss the state of Milnerton Lagoon last week.
According to Peter Walsh from #ReThinkTheStink, only one of the nine Subcouncil 3 councillors responsible for representing the area bothered to attend.
“No City health representatives present to explain how residents should protect themselves from dangerous Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) gas exposure. No data presented on ongoing H2S levels, despite national legal requirements to do so. A temporary air quality monitor has finally been installed on Woodbridge Island – but why did it take months of pressure from the community?” he says.
Walsh says the City failed to answer whether residents suffering from pollution-driven property devaluation will be considered for rates rebates.
“No response on why the City has not enforced a total moratorium on new developments until the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) upgrade is completed. How does the City plan to handle more developments when existing infrastructure is already failing? No answers,” he says.
The meeting
The City invited residents to join them for a public meeting on key interventions to restore the health of the Milnerton Lagoon at the Milnerton Library. The meeting was intended to provide updates, discuss directives, and answer questions on progress.
Walsh says the bioremediation trials are planned for 2025, but with no clear action plan.
”The Koeberg Road sewage pump station upgrade (including sand traps and screening) is on track for completion by June 2025 – expected to reduce breakdowns, spillages, and pressure on Potsdam WWTW. Dunoon and Table View East will see upgrades in 2025. Phoenix and Sanddrift East? Delayed until 2027 – years of continued risk for these communities. Sewer blockages have decreased over the past year, but that’s small comfort when toxic waste still flows into our waters,” he says.
Walsh says many residents never received invitations to this crucial public engagement.
“This is unacceptable. Transparent governance means including the people most affected. We demand better accountability, better infrastructure, and urgent action – not empty words. Your voice matters. The City may try to ignore us, but together, we are louder. Join the fight for clean water and a safer community,” he says.
City approach
Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien says they provided detailed water quality assessments and confirmed the Diep River and Milnerton Lagoon remain in ecological crisis.
They are implementing a multi-phase approach to address this:
February:
- Cleaning final Primary Settling Tank at Potsdam WWTW;
- disconnecting illegal stormwater connections;
- conducting door-to-door inspections in Joe Slovo;
- monitoring pollution levels weekly.
Next three months:
- Completing Koeberg PS sand trap and screening facility;
- reconfiguring Dunoon PS overflow pond;
- installing H2S air quality monitoring at Milnerton Canoe Club.
Mid-2025:
- Completing Potsdam membranes and dewatering (April-August);
- finalising Theo Marais Canal Rehabilitation Plan (June);
- testing bioremediation solutions (nano-bubbler technology);
- verifying all telemetry communication signals (May).
Longer term (2027-2028):
- Phoenix Pump Station upgrade;
- koeberg Road PS capacity upgrade;
- completing Montagu Drive Bulk Sewer rehabilitation.
“We are making positive changes and moving in the right direction despite recent setbacks. The sewer collapses at Montague Gardens and Phoenix Pump Station Rising Main collapse have created significant challenges over the summer, but we’re working tirelessly to restore and surpass previous water quality improvements. Each completed intervention brings us closer to a healthier lagoon,” Badroodien says.
For more information, email communications.waterandsanitation@capetown.gov.za.
