City foots R15 million bill for stolen, vandalised water and sanitation infrastructure
07 October 2025
Between July 2024 and June 2025, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate was forced to spend more than R15,3 million to repair and replace vandalised or stolen infrastructure. This includes critical items such as taps in informal settlements, sewer manhole covers, water meters, as well as valve and fire hydrant covers. This vital infrastructure needs to be in place to ensure reliable access to water, safeguard sewer and water network operations and for public safety.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is calling on the public to help safeguard its vital infrastructure by reporting information related to vandalism and theft, which is costing the City and ratepayers millions to replace.
‘Vandalism and theft of the City’s water and sanitation infrastructure is unacceptable. Each act of criminality drains millions from our budget, diverts valuable time and resources away from essential services, and puts communities at risk,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Cost of vandalism in formal areas
In formal residential areas alone, the City attended to 8 740 incidents of theft and vandalism, costing more than R14 million. This includes replacing missing fire hydrant covers, water meter manhole covers, damaged manholes, valve covers and stolen stopcocks. The two highest costs were replacing 3 094 sewer manhole covers (R3,8 million) and 2 602 stolen water meters (R7,5 million).
Impact on informal settlements
Across the city’s 702 informal settlement pockets, over 1 200 incidents were recorded, costing R1,1 million to repair or replace. This includes missing manhole covers, rodding eyes, taps, toilet doors, toilet containers, toilet pans as well as the top structures to the City-supplied toilets.
About 72% of the budget (over R835 000) was used to replace 923 missing or stolen taps in informal settlements. This greatly hinders the water supply to thousands of residents residing in informal settlements.
‘These incidents of vandalism and theft directly affect thousands of residents by disrupting water access and sewer safety. Something as simple as a stolen tap means a whole community can be left struggling to access water,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
Reporting channels
Residents are encouraged to report incidents of theft and vandalism in progresss to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) on 021 480 7700.
Alternatively, the public can share tips for a potential reward via the City’s 24-hr tip-off line on 0800 110 077.
Report water and sanitation service requests and vandalism damage to one of the following channels (Please provide the street address, and get a reference number):
• WhatsApp 060 018 1505
• Online www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests
• Email water@capetown.gov.za
• SMS 31373 (maximum 160 characters. Standard rates apply)
• Call 0860 103 089
• Visit a City walk-in centre (see www.capetown.gov.za/facilities to find the one closest to you)
Caption 1: A stolen sewer manhole cover leaves the public exposed to serious safety risks.
Caption 2: One of more than 3 000 stolen or vandalised sewer manhole covers costing the City millions.
Caption 3: Stolen City-supplied taps in an informal settlement can disrupt access to water for an entire community.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
