And False Bay to Vandalism
CCN Editor – George April
Cape Town:- Thousands of residents across Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs and False Bay coastline are facing a major water disruption starting today.
This following reported theft and vandalism of critical water infrastructure along the M5/Prince George Drive corridor.
In an urgent alert issued by Sub-Council 20 Chairperson and Ward 71 Councillor Carolynne Franklin, the public was warned of an emergency shut-off of water mains from approximately 08:00 on Friday, 9 January 2026.
Affected areas include, but are not limited to:
– Sea Winds
– Pelican Park
– Pelican Heights
– Steenberg
– Muizenberg
– Kalkfontein
– Fish Hoek
– Simon’s Town
– Strandfontein
– Ottery
– Lansdowne
– Lotus River
– Grassy Park
– Plumstead
– Parts of Wynberg, and surrounding suburbs fed by the same bulk mains
“No estimated time of restoration can be determined at this stage,” the alert stated, urging residents to prepare immediately.
Councillor Franklin advised households to store enough water for at least a 24-hour period, covering drinking, toilet flushing, washing, and pets’ needs.
This incident highlights the ongoing and severe problem of vandalism and theft targeting Cape Town’s water and sanitation infrastructure.
In the 2024/2025 financial year alone (July 2024 to June 2025), the City of Cape Town was forced to spend over R15.3 million repairing and replacing damaged or stolen items – money that could have been used for new services, upgrades, or other community needs.
Key statistics from the period underscore the seriousness:
Over 8,740 incidents in formal residential areas, costing more than R14 million.
More than 1,200 incidents in informal settlements, costing R1.1 million.
Major costs included replacing 3,094 stolen sewer manhole covers (R3.8 million) and 2,602 stolen water meters (R7.5 million).
“Each act of vandalism or theft not only causes immediate disruptions like this one, but drains millions from the City’s budget, diverting resources from essential improvements and putting entire communities at risk,” said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, in a recent statement on the issue.
These crimes affect everyone: stolen parts lead to leaks, pressure loss, and unplanned outages, while repair costs ultimately come from ratepayers’ pockets.
The City urges residents to report suspicious activity around infrastructure immediately to help prevent future incidents.
The City of Cape Town has been contacted for comment and further details on repair timelines and tanker support.
Residents are encouraged to stay updated via official channels and report faults to 0860 103 089.
Thank you for your understanding during this disruption.