Cape Town removes over 40 tonnes of rags, nappies and wet wipes from Manenberg's sewer system
The City of Cape Town says more than 40 tonnes of rags, nappies and wet wipes were pulled from Manenberg’s sewer system in just two months, enough waste to threaten a collapse of the network and failure of a major pump station.
The massive clean-up formed part of a “bucketing” exercise carried out by the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate during July and August 2025 on a bulk sewer line in Surrey Estate. The line runs from Manenberg to the Bridgetown pump station in Athlone.
According to the City, 40,060 kg of solid waste, made up largely of rags, wet wipes, sanitary towels and nappies, was removed.
“Had this massive build-up not been removed, it could have caused a major sewer blockage and pump station failure, spilling raw sewage into the surrounding community and posing serious health and environmental risks,” said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
The City spent R624 110 on the two-month operation, which also included proactive cleaning further up the line in Manenberg.
Bucketing is a mechanical cleaning method used on large sewer lines to remove foreign objects that should never be in the system. City-appointed contractors use it to keep bulk sewers flowing freely and to prevent blockages that can lead to overflows in homes, streets and public spaces.
“Rags and fabric should go in the regular waste bin, not down the toilet. These items don’t break down like toilet paper and severely damage our sewer infrastructure,” Badroodien said.
He added that flushing nappies and wet wipes has consequences for entire communities. “Every time a nappy or wet wipe is flushed, it increases the risk of blockages and overflows that threaten your neighbour’s health and our environment.”
The City urged residents to play their part by using waste bins and drop-off facilities instead of drains and toilets, and by reporting sewer blockages, overflows and vandalism through official channels.
IOL News