All hands on deck as joint services tackle sewage, waste and roadworks in Bishop Lavis
13 November 2025
The City embarked on another large-scale joint service delivery operation, this time resolving challenges in Bishop Lavis. The initiative took place from 3 to 7 November 2025 and brought together several City departments, including Water and Sanitation, Urban Waste Management, Urban Mobility, Recreation and Parks, Human Settlements, Metro Police, Law Enforcement and the Subcouncil 15 office. The unified objective was to deliver critical services to alleviate sewage overflows, waste build up and roads in disrepair – all in one week.
The drive for co-ordinated joint interventions was initiated by the Water and Sanitation Directorate to address challenges in areas where safety threats to operational teams have often prevented the City from carrying out routine maintenance.
Bishop Lavis is the fourth beneficiary community, as the area persistently struggles with blocked sewer lines, illegal dumping, and deteriorating roads. The root cause of many of these challenges is behavioural, as foreign materials continue to be disposed of in sewer and stormwater networks.
The purpose of the collective effort is to safely maximise service impact over a concentrated period, to address the gaps caused by disruptions.
On Thursday, 6 November, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, together with Ward Councillor Charles Esau (Ward 42), conducted an oversight visit to the sites, commending teams for their commitment and progress.
‘Bishop Lavis has been identified as a red zone due to ongoing gang violence and threats to City staff attending to essential services. The City has zero tolerance for extortion and urges residents to report such incidents anonymously via our tip-off line. This intervention demonstrates the power of collaboration and through working together, we can tackle long-standing issues and make visible improvements for residents,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Over the five-day intervention, City teams achieved the following:
Water and Sanitation:
• Cleared multiple sewer blockages and overflows using both manual and mechanical equipment, including a high-pressure jet truck, a combination unit, a crane truck, and an over-pump system where required. Work was conducted in Swan Road, Drankenstein Road, Lenton Drive, 15th Street, Arthur Abrahams Avenue, Barracuda Crescent and surrounding streets.
• A City contractor is repairing a complex sewer collapse along Swan Road, involving a 150mm sewer pipe. Work began in October and is expected to be completed at the end of November 2025, at a cost of approximately R750 000.
• Addressed reports of no water supply, low pressure, leaks at valves and meters, and missing fire hydrants.
• Held two education and awareness activations in the area: one at the Bishop Lavis Community Hall, and the other at the Shoprite Centre.
Urban Waste Management:
• Swept streets, verges, greenbelts and collected litter in polluted roads.
• Removed waste build up in hotspots.
• Emptied and cleaned public green disposal bins across Bishop Lavis.
Urban Mobility
• Began roadworks through a contractor, as part of regular maintenance aimed at prolonging the lifespan of the City’s road network. Work is expected to continue until the end of April 2026.
• Six road resurfacing projects have also kicked off in Bishop Lavis, which are scheduled to be completed in December 2025.
Human Settlements
• Attended to essential repairs and maintenance at the City’s affordable Community Residential Units (CRUs) (rental units).
Recreation and Parks
• Cut overgrown grass, trimmed trees and restored Lenton and Bosberg parks, making them safe for play.
In addition to the operational activities, the local Subcouncil 15 office signed up eligible residents on the EPWP Job Seekers Database, so they can be considered for short-term contract employment opportunities.
‘We are appealing to residents to play their part by using bins to dispose of solid waste responsibly. Never use the sewer system to flush away objects which will only cause blockages and result in sewer overflows that negatively affect everyone,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
