Catch-up project successfully appoints service provider to tackle 7 000 trench reinstatements
08 August 2025
Between December 2024 and the end of June 2025, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate successfully completed 2 211 reinstatements of pavements, driveways and road curbs across the city. To increase the rate at which the backlog is being addressed, a catch-up project will see an additional 7 000 reinstatements resolved.
In June 2025, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate completed 391 trench reinstatements across Cape Town. This is well above the preceding five-month average of 312. This consistent output reflects the positive impact of the directorate’s upscaling strategy, which enables multiple work packages to be rolled out in parallel to accelerate progress and reduce the backlog.
The backlog of older reinstatements (six months and older) is steadily coming down. However, the overall number of reinstatements outstanding is still climbing due to new pipe bursts occurring each day.
‘We know residents are frustrated with outstanding reinstatements, and rightly so. While residents see work taking place, there are also many new pipe bursts resulting in newer reinstatements awaiting completion. That is why we have introduced new approaches to speed up the process, with contractors now able to work on multiple sites at the same time.
‘We’ve also recently appointed a professional services provider to advance the completion of 7 000 backlog reinstatements, as a targeted intervention,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
Summary of interventions currently under way to reduce the number of outstanding reinstatements
Implementation of a catch-up project
Through an agreement signed on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, a professional services provider was appointed to complete 7 000 identified backlog reinstatements. This project is scheduled to start mid-August 2025.
Inclusion of reinstatements in pipe replacement scope
All reinstatement work resulting from proactive pipe replacement projects is included in the scope of work and is completed by the same contractor as part of the overall project package.
Regional deployment of contractors
Four active contractors are currently deployed across each region to carry out reinstatements following repairs to unplanned pipe bursts. This ensures city-wide coverage and parallel progress in multiple areas.
Maximising work package sizes to improve efficiency and reduce delays.
Investigating the feasibility of establishing internal reinstatement teams to further increase capacity.
Assistance from Urban Mobility to manage reinstatements along busy roads and main arterials.
Cape Town’s heavy winter rains can result in deep, flooded potholes at sites awaiting reinstatement.
Operational teams are required to ensure safety checks before leaving any site, which may include additional backfilling. This may add time to the process, but it is essential to ensure sites are safe.
Residents are encouraged to contact their councillor to report any reinstatement that needs to be made safe. The councillor will assist with the escalation of these through internal notification processes.
Thank you to all residents for your ongoing patience and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. The City is committed to continuously improving efficiencies to improve turnaround times.
Reinstatements are currently under way in these areas: Bellville CBD, Durbanville, Blouberg Rise, Cape Farms, Montague Gardens, Parklands, Rugby, Sandown, Sunningdale, Table View, Tijgerhof, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Royal Ascot, Century City, Milnerton Ridge, Milnerton, Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand, West Riding, Sunridge, Atlantis, Avondale, Flamingo Vlei, Robinvale, Saxonsea, Sherwood, Marconi Beam, Paarden Eiland, Summer Greens, Burgundy Estate, Sanddrift, Atlantis Industrial, Wynberg, Simon’s Town, Plumstead, Steenberg, Fish Hoek, Gordons Bay, Somerset West, Sir Lowrys Pass Village, Macassar, Firgrove and Strand.
Reinstatements are expected to take place next in these areas over the coming weeks: Parklands, Sunningdale, Table View, Blouberg Rise, Brooklyn, Melkbosch Strand, Robinvale, Rugby, Summer Greens, Sunridge, Century City, Marconi Beam, Protea Park-Wesfleur, Avondale-Wesfleur, Killarney Gardens, Lagoon Beach, Mamre, Saxonsea, Montague Gardens, Flamingo Vlei, Milnerton Rural, West Riding, Bloubergrant, Mamre, Protea Park Atlantis, Duynefontein, Paarden Eiland, Bellville South, Blomvlei, Boston, Hillrise, Labiance, Kempenville, Oakdale, Shirley Park, Triangle Farm, Amanda Glen, Aurora, Bergsig, Bethanie, Durbanville Hills, Durbanville Meadows, Eversdal, Everglen, Goedemoed, Kenridge, Langeberg Heights, Pinehurst, Ridgeworth, Schoongezicht, Sonstraal Heights, Stellenberg, Stellenridge, Stellenryk, The Crest, Vierlanden, Wellway Park, Parow, Churchill, Glenlilly, Avondale, Bothasig, Panorama, Edgemead, Plattekloof, Gordons Bay, Somerset West, Sir Lowrys Pass Village, Macassar, Firgrove, Strand, Belhar, Delft, Kuilsriver, Eersteriver and Mfuleni.
Caption 1 to 3: Reinstatement work that took place in Boston, Welgemoed, Loevenstein, Hoheizen and Brackenfell over the last few weeks.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
