The City of Cape Town is appealing to residents to watch what they flush down toilets.
This is after the City's water and sanitation teams have had to attend to 1 072 sewer blockages in Camps Bay, Bakoven, Clifton, and Sea Point from July 2023 to March 2025.
One of the main causes of these blockages was wet wipes being flushed down the toilet along with other items which do not belong in the sewer system.
During the 2023/2024 financial year, City teams attended to 585 sewer blockages, and in this 2024/2025 financial year, they have attended to 487 sewer blockages.
Identified causes of sewer blockages in Camps Bay, Bakoven, Clifton and Sea Point included:
Camps Bay City Improvement District (CBCID) operations manager Kyle Visagie said the CID receives an average of 15 - 20 complaints per month related to sewage and blocked drains. "We’ve seen a range of inappropriate items disposed of through the sewage system, including bath towels, nappies, wet wipes, and cooking fat, all of which can cause serious blockages. In stormwater drains, sand, litter, building rubble, and tree roots are the most common obstructions."
He said while the City remains responsible for sewer infrastructure, the CID supplements these efforts by clearing Camps Bay’s 496 stormwater drains and addressing surface-level blockages—particularly in preparation for the winter season. However, when the team encounters a blocked sewage drain, it is immediately logged with the City and regularly followed up with the relevant department to ensure the issue is resolved as quickly as possible.
Mr Visagie appealed to the community to avoid pouring oils or grease down the drain and to refrain from flushing non-biodegradable items. Additionally, keeping gutters and nearby drains clear of debris is vital—especially with the upcoming winter rains. "Preventative action at home plays a key role in avoiding overflows and protecting public infrastructure."
Meanwhile, Sea Point City Improvement District chief operations officer Heather Tager said they had received no reports or complaints of blocked drains or sewage overflow in the past month. "The CID cleansing team continuously cleans the storm water drains within the area, therefore very rarely do we have blockages."
She said on the odd occasion that there are blockages, they find that cooldrink cans, juice plastic bottles and plastic bags are the causes.
Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien asked residents to be mindful of the impact that improper household waste disposal habits have on the environment. "Help us reduce sewer overflows and prevent damage to infrastructure by only flushing human waste and toilet paper. We see an increase in the prevalence of wet wipes blocking sewer pipes in some areas. These should be discarded in the bin to be collected along with other refuse."
Audio: Zaid Badroodien
Despite continuous maintenance and rapid response efforts by the City, many of these blockages are preventable, said Dr Badroodien, adding that the volume of call-outs in these high-use areas raises serious concerns about ongoing irresponsible behaviour.
"I urge all residents and visitors to Camps Bay, Clifton, Bakoven and Sea Point - please do not flush wet wipes, nappies, sanitary towels, ear buds or any other foreign items down the toilet. These items do not break down like toilet paper and severely damage our sewer infrastructure. They increase the risk of blockages and overflows, which pose a serious threat to both the environment and public health."
Tips to help reduce sewage overflow: