Brown’s Farm benefits from joint service delivery intervention

06 November 2025

The City of Cape Town led a large-scale, multi-departmental service delivery drive in Brown’s Farm, Philippi, from 27 to 31 October 2025. The initiative by Water and Sanitation, Urban Waste Management, Urban Mobility, Metro Police, and Law Enforcement sought to address complex service delivery challenges, aimed at improving living conditions in one of the city’s most affected areas.

Brown’s Farm is one of the City’s red-zone crime areas, which makes it difficult for teams to operate safely without law enforcement support. The situation is exacerbated by volumes of foreign materials being dumped regularly into the sewer and stormwater networks. To attend to resulting sewer blockages, waste build-up, clogged stormwater systems, and potholes simultaneously through joint service delivery blitzes, is proving effective.
 
‘When we work together across departments, we can overcome even the toughest challenges. The intensive work done to clear several sewer lines, remove tonnes of waste and repair roads in Brown’s Farm altogether, is the third consecutive intervention following similar collaborations in Samora Machel and Langa.

‘This is made possible working hand-in-hand with Law Enforcement, to ensure that the City can access the area and work safely with the tools and equipment needed to get the work done,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
 
Over the five-day operation, a wide range of essential maintenance and cleaning activities were completed to restore services and improve conditions.

Water and Sanitation:

• Cleared sewer blockages using jetting and combination units, cranes, and over-pump systems in Mildred Holo, Singolamthi, Msingizane, Sharon, Berry, Mnixi and Link Roads.
• Repaired two complex sewer collapses: one on Magcanya Street and another at the corner of Berry and Sharon Roads (at a cost of R614 000).
• Attended to water-related complaints including low pressure, leaks, and missing hydrants.
• Serviced taps and toilets across 13 informal settlements.
• Held community education and awareness activations in Msingizana Street and Mnxi Road to promote responsible water use and sewer care.

 
Urban Waste Management:

• Cleared illegal dumping sites and removed accumulated waste from approximately 10 storage containers across informal settlements.
• Carried out street-sweeping, litter-picking, and refuse collection in both formal and informal areas.
• Serviced public green disposal bins throughout Brown’s Farm.

Urban Mobility
• Repaired potholes and roadway damage using base and asphalt material to improve road safety.
• Cleaned stormwater catch pits, manholes, and pipelines using both manual and mechanical methods.
• These interventions started in September and will continue until mid-November 2025 to ensure long-term impact.

On 31 October 2025, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, conducted an oversight visit with local Ward 34 Councillor Melikhaya Gadeni, to observe progress and encourage teams to persevere.
 
‘It’s been inspiring to see the synergy and coordination under challenging circumstances, which has shown tangible progress in Brown’s Farm. Now we need residents to join us in sustaining the momentum by disposing of waste responsibly and protecting the sewer system,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
 
 
Caption 1: Zolani Ntlemeza (left) and Andile Basela (back) show Councillor Badroodien a damaged water meter that required replacement.

 
Caption 3 – 4 (Dropbox): Inter-departmental City teams work through Brown’s Farm to improve cleanliness and living conditions 

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office