The danger of missing manhole covers
26 June 2025
With winter upon us and rainy days expected, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is urging residents to help prevent sewer overflows by reporting missing or damaged manhole covers. These covers are a vital part of our sewer infrastructure and help keep the system functioning properly.
Stolen or broken manhole covers put both infrastructure and public safety at risk. Open drains allow rainwater to enter the sewer system, especially during heavy rains and contribute to overflows. Rain water should flow into the stormwater network, not the sewer system. Illegal stormwater-to-sewer connections and the dumping of foreign objects into the sewer network further worsen the problem by blocking pipes.
The result is overflowing sewers, damaged infrastructure such as pump stations and sewer collapses.
Open manholes also pose a serious safety hazard for motorists and pedestrians, particularly when filled with rainwater and are not easily visible. Each year, the City spends millions of rand to replace missing manhole covers across Cape Town. A pilot project testing lockable manhole covers has been implemented to determine if stronger locking mechanisms can reduce theft and vandalism.
‘The Directorate has spent about R 2,4 million on replacing 2 824 sewer drain manhole covers across Cape Town between July 2024 and May 2025. This figure has decreased compared to the 4 468 manhole covers reported missing or stolen in the 2023/2024 financial year.
‘This is a preventable issue that requires everyone’s help. By reporting missing or damaged covers, residents can help us protect our sewer infrastructure and prevent costly and dangerous overflows,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
How residents can help
• Do not remove or tamper with sewer drain covers.
• Only authorised City staff may open them for maintenance work.
• If you see a missing or broken cover, report it immediately via the City’s official service channels so it can be replaced.
City efforts to combat theft and vandalism
The City has implemented various strategies to curb theft, including:
• A reward of up to R5 000 for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect or the recovery of stolen City property.
• Ongoing operations by Law Enforcement and Metro Police to identify and act on incidents of theft and illegal scrap sales.
Residents are encouraged to report incidences of theft and vandalism to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) at 021 480 7700 or by dialling 107 from a landline. This resource is set up specifically to enable residents to report incidents of theft and vandalism directly to the City anonymously, without fear of intimidation.
If your confidential information leads to a successful arrest or recovery of City property, you may be eligible for a reward of up to R5 000.
Log water and sanitation problems or service requests
Report vandalism damage, sewer blockages, missing drain covers, burst pipes, leaks and water wastage using one of the following channels (Please provide the street address, and get a reference number):
• 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)
Captions 1 and 2: Damaged manhole covers.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
