Residents warn Zeekoevlei crisis needs urgent action, not long-term plans

Residents living along Cape Town’s largest inland water body say worsening pollution at Zeekoevlei has reached a crisis point, with water turning green and emitting a foul smell.

The vlei is currently closed due to toxic contamination and poor water quality, amid ongoing concerns about sewage inflows and nutrient pollution.

‘The water itself becomes smelly’

Speaking on CapeTalk, Friends of Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei Chairperson Sidney Jacobs said residents along the water’s edge are witnessing visible deterioration.

“What we see, especially people living on the water edge, is the water itself turns green, the water itself becomes smelly, and of course nobody can use the water because of its toxicity,” he said.

RELATED: Zeekoevlei closure drags on amid water quality concerns

The City of Cape Town has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, citing long-term issues including sediment build-up, nutrient enrichment and organic pollution that have led to frequent algal blooms.

While dredging projects are underway, Jacobs said this was not enough.

Sewage flowing into the Big Lotus River

Much of the concern centres on sewage entering the Big Lotus River, which feeds into Zeekoevlei.

Jacobs said residents were recently taken into the catchment area to see the scale of the problem.

He highlighted the Sweet Home informal settlement as a major source of contamination, alleging that sewage has been flowing continuously from stormwater pipes since 2024.

“There are three huge stormwater pipes, and coming out of the stormwater pipes is sewage,” he said.

Jacobs estimates that roughly six million litres of contaminated liquid are flowing into the river system.

“This has been running continuously since 2024,” he added.

‘Our vlei does not have the luxury of time’

The City has attributed pollution to a combination of formal and informal settlements, commercial activity and illegal sewer connections. It says studies are underway to identify key sewage inflows, with longer-term solutions planned.

But Jacobs warned that those interventions are too far off.

“Studies take time; tests take time. Our vlei does not have the luxury of time to survive. We need help now,” he said.

He added that some permanent solutions are only scheduled to be rolled out in 2027.

At the same time, Jacobs said the vlei is unusually full despite a dry season and ongoing dredging.

“Zandvlei is overflowing, and there’s not been any rain,” he said, arguing that the sustained inflow of contaminated water is exacerbating the problem.

Residents and environmental groups are now calling for urgent interim measures while longer-term infrastructure plans are being developed.

For more detailed information, listen to Jacobs using the audio player below: