SAHRC Finds Cape Town Sewage Violations Persist in Communities

• SAHRC Commissioner Henk Boshoff observed ongoing sewage spills and refuse challenges in Cape Town's Wallacedene and Bloekombos communities during a recent visit.
• This inspection followed a year after initial complaints from residents regarding recurring sanitation issues and poor waste management.
• The City of Cape Town reported addressing numerous sewer blockages, attributing most to solid waste and foreign objects, while acknowledging illegal dumping as a serious concern.
• Community leaders dispute the City's explanation, arguing that inadequate street cleaning and waste collection lead to debris entering the sewage system, especially after heavy rains.
• The SAHRC confirmed that the conditions in Bloekombos, marked by residents living amidst sewage, represent clear human rights violations and an unacceptable disrespect for human dignity.

The South African Human Rights Commission has unequivocally stated that the persistent sewage spills and uncollected waste in these areas constitute definite human rights violations, specifically infringing upon human dignity.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has once again highlighted severe sanitation and waste management failures in Cape Town's Wallacedene and Bloekombos communities, with Commissioner Henk Boshoff confirming ongoing human rights violations. During a recent inspection, Boshoff observed children from Wallacedene Primary navigating green streams of sewage along Sono Street, a stark indicator of the pervasive issues.

This latest assessment, conducted on September 3, comes a year after Boshoff's initial visit to the area, which was prompted by numerous complaints from residents regarding chronic sewage blockages and inadequate waste collection. His previous observations included widespread street sewage, rubbish that appeared uncollected for extended periods, and an overwhelming stench, leading him to urge the City of Cape Town to implement lasting solutions. The recent visit included City officials, such as Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien, alongside representatives from national departments of human settlements and water and sanitation, who accompanied Boshoff as he noted fresh sewage spills and significant refuse removal challenges upon entering the communities.

In response to the persistent issues, the City of Cape Town has outlined its efforts, with Mayco member Zahid Badroodien stating in August 2025 that maintenance teams had addressed 1,270 sewer blockages in Wallacedene and 546 in Bloekombos. The City attributes the majority of these blockages to foreign objects like nappies, solid waste, and even tyres entering the sewer system. Badroodien acknowledged that while waste is collected weekly, illegal dumping remains a serious concern, suggesting that the current one-week collection frequency might be insufficient, citing improved waste removal in Dunoon after increasing collection frequency there.

However, community leaders offer a different perspective. Mluleki Tomsana, a local leader, contends that rubbish and other objects are washed into drains because streets are not adequately cleaned and waste collection is not thorough. He further explained that the problem intensifies after heavy rains, which sweep uncollected refuse and sand directly into the sewage system. Zolani Mqongqana from the City's housing office also noted efforts to remove nine shacks built directly over sewage pipes to access lines, adding that shacks in the Mqongqana Social Distance informal settlement, situated above a pipeline needing repair, also require relocation, though space constraints pose a challenge.

The daily reality for residents in these areas is one of constant exposure to unsanitary conditions, directly impacting their quality of life and livelihoods. Neziwe Maphisa, who sells braai meat, reported that sewage frequently overflows from a damaged drain near her stand, leading customers to comment on the dirtiness of her business location despite enjoying her food. Similarly, community leader Linda Phito highlighted several streets plagued by sewage leaks, noting that customers at a restaurant beside Bhabhalaza street are forced to endure the stench while eating. Phito has called upon the Human Rights Commission to compel the City to install essential infrastructure like toilets and water taps.

Commissioner Boshoff, while acknowledging that City officials provided reports and statistics on funds spent on drainage system repairs, expressed a nuanced view. He stated that while he was satisfied that work was being undertaken by the City, the situation was far from ideal, with sewage spills, rubbish, and litter still prevalent throughout Bloekombos. Crucially, when questioned about human rights violations, Boshoff unequivocally affirmed that the conditions represent "definite human rights violations in the sense that human dignity is not respected in Bloekombos," adding that witnessing people living amidst sewage is "not acceptable."

The South African Human Rights Commission has unequivocally stated that the persistent sewage spills and uncollected waste in these areas constitute definite human rights violations, specifically infringing upon human dignity. This finding carries significant weight, underscoring the legal and ethical obligations of the City of Cape Town to ensure adequate municipal service delivery, particularly in sanitation.

Commissioner Boshoff's firm stance on the disrespect for human dignity in Bloekombos suggests that the SAHRC will continue its close monitoring of the situation. He has indicated plans to meet with solid waste management officials later this month to discuss strategies for improved waste removal. These ongoing investigations and explicit findings of human rights breaches could pave the way for increased legal scrutiny and potential challenges against the City regarding its handling of the Cape Town sanitation crisis, particularly concerning the Wallacedene Bloekombos sewage issues and broader municipal service delivery failures.

Lawyers representing affected communities can leverage the SAHRC's findings of ongoing human rights violations to pursue litigation against the City of Cape Town for service delivery failures. Municipal legal teams and compliance officers should prepare for increased scrutiny and potential legal challenges stemming from these persistent issues.

Source: Original reporting via GroundUp