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Atlantis|Bellville|Cape Town|Somerset West|Metal Theft|Sanitation|Scrap Metal|Zahid Badroodien
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Cape Town continues roll-out of lockable glass-fibre manhole covers to curb vandalism

The installation of a lockable manhole cover in Wesbank

The installation of a lockable manhole cover in Wesbank

13th April 2026

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Water and Sanitation Directorate has, to date, installed more than 500 lockable manhole covers across sewer and reticulation infrastructure in the metro.

The initiative seeks to reduce unauthorised access to the sewer system and prevent tampering, theft and illegal dumping.

The city began installation of the lockable manhole covers across the city last year.

The new covers have no scrap value – traditional manhole covers are made of cast-iron – thereby reducing the risk of theft.

The covers are made from a UV-stabilised glass-fibre reinforced sheet, which is lightweight and fire-resistant.

The covers can only be opened by city officials and contractors through the use of a specialised key.

In addition to the covers already installed on water and sewer reticulation manholes, a further 151 have been installed at the city’s pressure reducing valve chambers and treated effluent supply infrastructure.

Communities such as Somerset West, Eerste River, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Atlantis, Hout Bay, Constantia, Cape Town central business district, Bellville, Athlone and Lansdowne have all witnessed the installation of the lockable covers.

Seventy-two additional lockable manhole covers are currently being installed in Wesbank, with a further 20 to be installed in Kalkfontein.

“Many of the sewer blockages experienced in Wesbank are caused by the illegal disposal of foreign objects into the sewer network,” says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien.

“This misuse results in recurring blockages and overflows, which negatively impact residents and place additional strain on municipal resources

“Our hope is that the lockable covers will deter against vandalism and misuse.”

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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