Damaged pipeline causes chaos in Schaapkraal

Residents of Schaap Road and 8th Avenue in Schaapkraal have been dealing with ongoing flooding and incomplete roadworks for more than two months.

The City of Cape Town said a collapsed or damaged pipeline is causing a blockage, which is in turn causing systems upstream to back up and result in flooding.

The situation worsened after heavy rainfall on Tuesday, June 25, which caused the flooding to resurface. A broken stormwater drain has added to the problem, with vehicles getting stuck and sewage water pooling in the roads.

“It’s not just rainwater, there’s also sewage water flowing into the road,” said Ilhaam Hendricks, a resident and tuck shop owner.

Ms Hendricks expressed frustration at the ongoing delays and the lack of response from officials. She said the prolonged flooding was affecting both livelihoods and public health.

“I’ve been waiting for more than two weeks for the road to be pumped, and my business is suffering significant losses because of the negligence of the contractor. To make matters worse, my boundary wall is now starting to collapse due to being submerged in sewage and wastewater,” said Ms Hendricks.

In an attempt to clear the water, Schaap Road residents hired suction equipment and laid down a 100-metre pipe. “However, the effort proved futile, simply redirecting the water further down the road instead of removing it,” said Ms Hendricks.

Contractors appointed by the City began work several weeks ago and managed to clear parts of the road. However, further rainfall reversed much of the progress. Parts of 8th, 9th, and 10th Avenues remain gravelled and unstable.

Ms Hendricks said pipes had collapsed in some areas and some roads had been flooded for more than 15 consecutive days.

“People can’t even move in and out properly,” she said.

For Ms Hendricks, the impact on residents, particularly those in the nearby informal settlement Jim se Bos, is a greater concern.

“Every day, I watch the disadvantaged residents of Jim se Bos (an informal settlement, not far from her home), through knee-deep water, morning and evening, just to get to work or school. Children are running and playing in this faeces-contaminated water. Where is the moral conscience? How can anyone allow this to happen, especially those elected to represent and protect this community?”

Ms Hendricks said: “While flooding is a serious concern, we are facing a public health crisis, but what we’re dealing with here is a public health crisis. The stench, the contamination, poses a clear hazard to everyone, especially the most vulnerable: the poor, the elderly, and our children.”

Ward 43 councillor Elton Jansen said urgent action was needed in Schaapkraal, particularly in 8th, 9th, and 10th Avenues, as well as Schaap Road and Vlei Road.

“I’ve inspected the pumping and it’s a waste of time. The gravel roads are unbearable to drive on,” said Mr Jansen.

He said he had visited residents who were affected by power outages caused by the flooding and thanked them for their patience. He also engaged with residents in informal settlements whose homes were affected.

“The City project manager has approved the work, and the contractor will begin with the full length of 10th Avenue, followed by key sections of 9th and 8th Avenues,” he said. 

Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s mayoral committee member for urban mobility said the City is currently reconstructing the existing gravel roads to surfaced roads.

Mr Quintas said: “The City is currently working on 8th, 9th and 10th avenues in Schaapkraal. Initial programming put the completion date as Thursday August 7, but given the current inclement weather and prevailing conditions on site, the work is more likely to be completed by the end of October 2025. The work is, unfortunately, weather dependent.

When asked what the cause of the flooded roads was, Mr Quintas said: “After some investigation it was found that a collapsed/damaged pipeline is the cause of a blockage, which in turn is causing systems upstream of this point to back up and cause flooding.”

Mr Quintas said: “The City’s Roads Infrastructure Management (RIM) department has put forward a proposal to repair the damaged pipe, but there are variables affecting the action of such repair, some of which include the inclement weather and soil conditions. 

“Another suggestion being considered is the creation of a temporary canal along 8th Avenue (Schaap Road - Strandfontein Road). This is being assessed and should it be within the realm of possibility, with respect to cost and time, RIM will endeavour to implement this proposal in order to drain the water and alleviate flooding in the short term,” said Mr Quintas.