The City of Cape Town’s decision to discharge untreated sewage into the Green Point, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay marine outfalls has sparked intense backlash from environmentalists, local communities, and political figures, as concerns over the potential harm to marine ecosystems and public health intensify. Despite claims by the City’s Directorate for Water and Sanitation that the sewage is treated before being released and that discharges do not exceed the established limits, critics are challenging the lack of transparency and the growing volume of effluent being pumped into the ocean. The debate reached new heights when the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) temporarily suspended the volume limits on sewage discharge, granting the City the discretion to release even larger volumes of treated effluent than previously allowed.
The GOOD Party, led by national youth chairperson Kaden Arguile, has been vocal in condemning the DFFE’s decision, arguing that it grants the City unchecked powers and further compromises the environmental health of Cape Town’s waters. Arguile claimed that the suspension of coastal water discharge permits, which had previously limited the amount of sewage released to 41 million litres per day, has led to a dangerous increase in discharge volumes. The GOOD Party argues that this shift disregards the environmental damage caused by excessive effluent and undermines public trust in the City’s handling of its water and sanitation challenges.
In response, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, defended the decision, stating that public advisory meetings on the outfall compliance have been held, and that the City is fully aware of its responsibilities in monitoring and regulating the discharges. The City, in turn, asserts that despite the temporary suspension of discharge volume limits, it continues to adhere to the original conditions outlined in its permit, insisting that the overall discharge is still well within regulatory standards. According to Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayco member for Water and Sanitation, the volume limits outlined in the original water licences should still be regarded as the baseline for monitoring, and thus, claims of “unlimited discharges” are inaccurate.
However, local communities, such as those in Hout Bay, are not convinced. Councillor Paul Jacobson voiced his discontent with the lifting of the discharge limits, expressing concerns over the continuous flow of untreated sewage into marine outfalls, already burdened with around 50 million litres of raw sewage. Jacobson stressed the contradiction of Cape Town’s efforts to position itself as a leading tourist destination while neglecting the environmental impact of poor sewage management. With experts in the field of environmental health echoing similar concerns, the call for stronger regulation and accountability in how sewage is managed grows louder.
Public health experts are also voicing alarm over the long-term effects of sewage discharges on both human health and the environment. Dr. Jo Barnes, a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Global Health, warned that the sea is not a “delete button” for sewage, and continued dumping could have serious consequences. Barnes pointed to the risks posed by contaminated seafood, the dangers to beachgoers and recreational users, and the strain on an already overstretched health system. As the controversy unfolds, many are calling for a comprehensive solution to the city’s sewage management issues, urging the authorities to take urgent action before the environmental and health risks spiral further out of control.
