Cape Town's Helderberg community demands an end to sewage spills

Helderberg residents are demanding accountability from the City of Cape Town and immediate action to stop sewage spills in the area.

The community said beach closures due to ongoing sewage discharges into the sea and recreational areas have impacted residents and businesses, while beachgoers face bacterial infections due to contaminated water.

The city said plans are underway to upgrade the area's sewerage system.

Helderberg resident and water quality advocate Jamii Hamlin said ongoing sewage spills into rivers and beaches in the area are a massive cause for concern.

"We cannot ignore the ongoing increase of contamination and pollution that we are witnessing across the Mother City. It's no longer acceptable that we can go down to beaches and see it littered and polluted by sewage overflows."   

The city's Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahied Badroodien, admits there are areas in Helderberg that experience sewer overflows.

"Our operational teams attempt to get to those overflows as quickly as possible as soon as residents and community members are able to log these requests."   

Badroodien has assured residents that the city's fast turnaround times help protect the environment and ocean from pollution.