Sewer horror – Manenberg sees 40 tonnes of waste removed
29 September 2025
Mountains of rags, nappies and wet wipes, weighing over 40 tonnes, were hauled out of Manenberg’s sewer system in just two months as the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate carried out a major ‘bucketing’ exercise to prevent a possible sewer collapse and pump station failure.
Bucketing is a mechanical cleaning method used on large sewer lines to remove rags, sand, grit, roots and other foreign objects that should never be in the system. City-appointed contractors use this method to keep bulk sewers flowing freely and to prevent blockages that can lead to overflows in homes, streets and public spaces.
During July and August 2025, the City carried out a bucketing exercise on a bulk sewer line in Surrey Estate, which runs from Manenberg to the Bridgetown pump station in Athlone. An alarming 40 060 kg of solid waste, made up largely of rags, wet wipes, sanitary towels and nappies, was extracted from the system. Had this massive build-up not been removed, it could have caused a major sewer blockage and pump station failure, spilling raw sewage into the surrounding community and posing serious health and environmental risks.
‘Rags and fabric should go in the regular waste bin, not down the toilet. These items don’t break down like toilet paper and severely damage our sewer infrastructure,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
The City invested R624 110 for this two-month operation, which also included proactive cleaning further up the line in Manenberg. Without these interventions, families in Manenberg and Surrey Estate could have faced serious impacts on their daily life.
‘Every time a nappy or wet wipe is flushed, it increases the risk of blockages and overflows that threaten your neighbour’s health and our environment,’ said Councillor Badroodien,
Residents and visitors can help reduce sewer overflows:
Use the City's solid waste services provided to get rid of your waste, not drains and toilets.
Report sewer blockages and overflows using one of the City's official channels so they can be cleared in a reasonable timeframe.
Report vandalism of the sewer system and stolen or missing sewer manhole covers.
Captions 1 - 3: Some of the 40 tonnes of debris, including nappies and wet wipes, that were removed from Manenberg’s sewer line.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
