Interventions under way to move forward with trench reinstatements
25 November 2024
The Water and Sanitation Directorate is working earnestly to address the trench reinstatement backlog, emerging from excavations for repairs to water pipes. An increased budget of R55 million has been allocated in this 2024/25 financial year towards interventions to make further progress on reinstatements. Tender arrangements are in the final stages with work on the ground expected to gain momentum in the first quarter of 2025.
The City acknowledges the inconvenience that delays to some reinstatements have caused residents.
The City apologises for the frustration and is working on improving this service considerably.
The directorate will be using external contractors to undertake reinstatements. Several reinstatements will be grouped in batches, awarded to service providers every four to five weeks. Once appointed, contractors will begin work on the ground in the following weeks. Completion timelines will vary depending on trench size, complexity and the number of reinstatements per batch.
Continuous roll out of multiple work packages at a time, will allow for several areas to be serviced in a systematic manner. Each batch is structured to enable approximately 1 000m2 of roads, driveways and/or sidewalks reinstatements to be completed at a time.
As at November 2024, about 6 200 trenches are in the process of being attended to.
‘The City is committed to ensuring that all reinstatements are adequately resourced. To facilitate this, more than R33 million was allocated during the previous 2023/24 financial year for work conducted by internal teams. In the 2024/25 financial year, the allocation has increased to R55 million from the repairs and maintenance budget.
‘The new system is designed to ensure that a continuous cycle of at least 4 000m² of streets and pavements are in the process of being reinstated at any given time. Information on the progress of work in different areas will be provided to subcouncil on a monthly basis,’ said City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Residents are advised that finishes between property boundaries and street curbs are limited to the standard asphalt, concrete and clay brick paving. This does not include specialised surfacing and custom finishes.
Aside from unexpected pipe burst repairs, the City also undertakes proactive maintenance through pipe replacements at an unprecedented rate. Those reinstatements are undertaken by the same contractor appointed to do the pipe replacements.
The targets set to reduce the current backlog through the work package intervention, excludes reinstatements completed as part of proactive maintenance.
‘We look forward to visibly seeing progress as contractors work through their batches and want to reassure residents that in due course of time, all areas will be attended to. With oversite from the Water and Sanitation directorate, contractors will undoubtedly do their best to reduce outstanding reinstatements in the shortest time possible,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
