Grootboschkloof River maintenance completed ahead of winter rain
30 April 2026
Flood risk in parts of Constantia has been reduced following the completion of proactive maintenance along the Grootboschkloof River in preparation for the rainy season.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate undertook the maintenance work from January to March 2026, to improve flow capacity and reduce the likelihood of blockages during periods of heavy rain.
The project formed part of various activities targeted at preparing waterways for winter.
R900 000 was invested in clearing and rehabilitating the river channel including:
- Removing alien vegetation from site
- Removing silt at certain points
- Removing roots at certain points
- Cutting and removing fallen trees and large branches
- Unblocking outlets
‘Proactive maintenance along rivers like Grootboschkloof plays a critical role in reducing flood risk and ensuring that waterways can cope with increased winter flows. By clearing blockages and improving flow capacity ahead of the rainy season, we are helping to protect surrounding communities and infrastructure,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Further upstream, more proactive maintenance is taking place along the Spaanschemat River, which meets the Grootboschkloof River near the M3, valued at R670 000.
The Grootboschkloof River extends approximately 1,5 km from Nova Constantia Road to its confluence with the Spaanschemat River, flowing through public open space and greenbelt areas.
Caption 1 and 2: City and contractor staff working on site on proactive maintenance of the Grootboschkloof River.
Caption 3: Alien vegetation cleared from the Grootboschkloof River to improve flow and reduce flood risk.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
