Jakkalsvlei Catchment Management Forum holds its inaugural meeting
08 June 2025
The Jakkalsvlei Catchment Management Forum (J-CMF) was officially established following its inaugural meeting on 21 May 2025 at the Parow Council Chambers. This highlights the City’s Water and Sanitation’s efforts to collaborate with communities towards local catchment stewardship.
This newly formed forum is part of the broader Salt River Catchment, the third largest in Cape Town, covering about 270 km². This catchment includes the Liesbeek, Black, and Elsieskraal rivers, along with their tributaries and canal systems, which flow into Table Bay through the Salt River Outlet Canal near Paarden Eiland.
To strengthen local engagement and improve targeted catchment
management, the City’s Catchment, Stormwater and River Management (CSRM) Branch
has subdivided the larger Salt River Catchment into three more manageable
catchment areas. These include the Lower Salt River CMF, the Vygieskraal CMF
and the Jakkalsvlei CMF.
The Jakkalsvlei CMF encompasses diverse communities
such as Bishop Lavis, Nooitgedacht, Valhalla Park, Kalksteenfontein, Montana,
Matroosfontein, Elsies Rivier, Epping Forest, The Range, Elnor, Clarkes Estate,
Adriaanse, Charlesville, Bonteheuwel, Langa, Epping Industrial 1 and 2,
and Matroosfontein.
‘The formation of this forum marks a vital step forward in
the City’s commitment to safeguarding and restoring our urban waterways.
Through forums like the Jakkalsvlei CMF, we are creating space for meaningful
partnerships that can drive long-term environmental and social change. True
progress in river management happens when communities are empowered to be part
of the solution,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member
for Water and Sanitation.
The purpose of the CMF is to foster community collaboration
to enhance environmental water quality, improve river management, address
sources of urban pollution and contribute to flood mitigation efforts in the
catchment area.
Among the key pollution challenges identified in the Salt
River Catchment are:
Litter and domestic refuse
Building rubble and illegal
dumping
Greywater discharge and night
soil
Runoff from vehicle wash areas
Livestock presence
Rapid urban densification and
informality
Treated effluent from Borcherds
Quarry Wastewater Treatment Works
Sewer system issues including
pump station failures and inadequate sewer reticulation
Cross-connections between
stormwater/sewer reticulation and pump stations
Illegal residential stormwater
connections to the municipal sewer reticulation
Industrial and factory
effluent, particularly in Epping 1 and 2
Call to Participate
Residents, non-governmental organisations, environmental
advocates, local businesses and ‘Friends of the River’ groups are warmly
encouraged to become part of this important initiative by attending forum
meetings and contributing to collaborative river stewardship.
The next Jakkalsvlei CMF meeting will be held on Wednesday,
11 June 2025 at 14:30 at the Bonteheuwel Civic Centre. This meeting will
be particularly significant as elections will take place for key leadership
positions: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretariat.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
