Since June 2025, the City's Water and Sanitation Directorate has been working to repair two portions of the Southfield Canal, but the work has been put on hold because of bad weather. When the environment is safer and more favorable, the work is expected to start up again in October 2025.
Picture by City of Cape Town.
The R3.6 million
restoration project was started by the City's Catchment, Stormwater and River
Management Branch after portions of the canal wall at Prince Charles Road and
Dirkie Uys Street fell in July 2024 due to intense rains. In order to stop additional erosion and
embankment failure, which endanger the infrastructure and properties nearby,
these repairs are essential.
As the primary entry to the Princess Vlei waterbody, the Southfield Canal is an essential watercourse located in the Zeekoe Catchment between Southfield, Retreat, and Grassy Park. It is crucial to preserving the water flow to the vlei and drains an area of around 800 hectares.
Numerous obstacles have affected the project since it
started. Excavation and construction
operations have been hampered by the canal's consistently high water levels,
and the lack of access between neighboring properties has limited the flow of
equipment and supplies.
The timeline was
further thrown off by unfavorable weather circumstances like persistently high
rains and strong gusts, which also raised the water levels in the canal and
created dangerous conditions on the job site.
It was dangerous to carry out the required excavation, repair, and
reinforcing work because of these considerations.
Done By Lisakhanya Ongezwa Mhambi
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