Khayelitsha Sewer Crisis: Families Displaced as Sinkholes Swallow Homes
Cape Town, South Africa – Dozens of families in Khayelitsha have been forced to abandon their homes after collapsing sewer lines triggered dangerous sinkholes, leaving streets flooded with raw sewage. The City of Cape Town has pledged to complete repairs within a month, but displaced residents face harsh conditions in temporary shelters.
A Community in Crisis
Between October and December 2023, sinkholes tore through the SST informal settlement in Town Two and the Lansdowne Road settlement in Makhaza, swallowing shacks and spewing sewage into streets. The disaster was caused by the collapse of an underground bulk sewer line, forcing emergency relocations.
To access the damaged pipeline, the city moved affected families to temporary zinc structures in Green Point, near an Eskom substation. But the relocation has brought new hardships—residents report no electricity, forcing them to return to their former neighborhoods just to charge phones and lamps.
Repairs Underway, But Risks Remain
While crews work to fix the broken sewer system, the city has installed a temporary 400mm high-density polyethylene pipe, stretching two kilometers to divert waste. Repairs in Makhaza are expected to finish by month’s end, while SST’s repairs await a contractor by mid-April.
Yet dangers persist. New sinkholes continue opening in SST, with some creeping dangerously close to homes. Thumeka Hoza, a mother of four, described how a foul-smelling sinkhole emerged beneath her shack two weeks ago and has since expanded toward her children’s sleeping area.
Eskom Warns of Safety Hazards
The relocation site itself has sparked controversy. Eskom has raised alarms over the makeshift shelters built near its substation, warning that they block access and sit atop underground cables. Littering by residents also increases fire risks, the utility said.
“The structures pose a risk to the substation and must be removed as soon as possible,” said Eskom spokesperson Zanele Bukani. The City of Cape Town responded that it is investigating the concerns but claimed no issues were identified during initial planning.
Residents Demand Solutions
With repairs still weeks away, displaced families remain in limbo. Many fear returning to unstable ground, yet the alternative—living without power in cramped temporary housing—is equally dire.
As the city races to restore services, residents like Mzikazi Twani voice frustration over the lack of basic amenities. “We just want a safe place to live,” she said.
For now, Khayelitsha’s sewer crisis underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in South Africa’s overcrowded informal settlements.
— Reported by Nexio News
