Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
10 February 2023 | 18:30 CAT

The City of Cape Town is considering the implementation of additional measures to reduce the environmental impact of discharging wastewater into the oceans.

Picture: Environmental Buddy

This comes after several Cape Town beaches were closed over the holiday period due to concerns about the health and safety of swimmers amid high levels of pollution.

However, the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Siseko Mbandezi, says the city’s discharge of wastewater was done with consideration of the best environmental practices.

“These outfalls have been assessed to be operating within marine environmental standards. The city is committed to protecting and managing Cape Town’s natural environment and reducing environmental pollution to best practices and technology,” says Mbandezi.

He added that this includes upgrades to wastewater treatment works and the sewer network, which will have a positive impact on water quality.

“Historically sewage was discharged directly at the beach, in Greenpoint and Camps Bay. These outfalls were later upgraded to proper deep sea marine outfalls to extend over 1.7 kilometers out to sea,” says Mbandezi.

Meanwhile, ActionSA is preparing a legal challenge the permit issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, to the city of Cape Town.

The party argues that the pumping of sewage into the ocean violates the right to health enshrined in the Constitution.