The long-running dispute over Cape Town’s marine sewage outfalls has now reached an independent appeals panel, which is expected to rule on ActionSA’s challenge to the City’s licensing practices.
ActionSA lodged its appeal two years ago, seeking an order to halt the City’s use of its three marine outfalls at Green Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay, and to compel the adoption of alternative sewage treatment measures. The party claimed the City had repeatedly breached licence conditions by discharging excessive volumes of untreated sewage into the ocean.
ActionSA National chair Michael Beaumont reiterated these concerns at a media briefing at the Green Point marine outfall, alleging discharge limits at the Hout Bay outfall had been exceeded and billions of litres of untreated sewage had entered the ocean over the past two years.
“In the two years it has taken to have this appeal,” he said, “it is estimated over 19 billion litres of raw, untreated sewage has gone out into the oceans in the City of Cape Town.”
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City reassures public beaches are safe
Responding to the claims, the City’s Mayco member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien told TygerBurger today (Wednesday 17 Decemner) the public should be reassured that Cape Town’s beaches remain safe for recreational use.
“The public is reassured that it is safe to enjoy Cape Town’s beaches,” he said, adding the City continued to monitor not only the three marine outfalls, but also coastal waters along recreational beach stretches.
Badroodien stressed the outfalls were located far offshore, outside of recreational and Blue Flag beach areas, where effluent is dispersed within what is known as an “allowable mixing zone”.
“Regular coastal water monitoring confirms our recreational beaches are safe for recreational use and that coastal water quality is within acceptable recreational parameters.”
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City rejects claims of uncontrolled discharge
Badroodien rejected ActionSA’s assertion that the City had applied for new licences, saying this was incorrect and misleading.
“The City is working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to review licence conditions that are inconsistent across the three marine outfalls. It is incorrect to claim that the City is discharging an uncontrolled volume of screened sewage into the ocean.”
He said independent scientists monitor ocean conditions and that the City reports all required parameters to the regulating authority in line with original licensing conditions.
Addressing claims of permit exceedances at Hout Bay, Badroodien said these were based on outdated permits and ignored inconsistencies that the City has formally requested the DFFE to review.
“Because of the feedback being provided by these scientists who are experts in this space, that even in the area where the sewage plume exists the water being measured is clearly in line with the original licence parameters.”
Monitoring, transparency and scientific findings
Badroodien said the City holds regular Permit Advisory Forum (PAF) meetings, which are open to the public, where both internal and independently-audited environmental monitoring data are presented.
“At the most recent PAF meeting, statistics showed the City continued to operate the marine outfalls in line with current permits and licence conditions,” he said.
He noted that the City’s independently appointed environmental monitoring organisation released first-year results from its Receiving Environment Monitoring Programme (2024-’25), confirming that all three marine outfalls are operating within environmental standards.
In addition, seven major independent scientific studies conducted in recent years have concluded that the marine outfalls are meeting their design objectives by reducing potential ecological and human health risks through deep-water dilution.
Badroodien also pointed out that marine outfalls account for only about 5% of the City’s total wastewater discharge, with the remaining 95% treated at land-based wastewater treatment works.
Upgrades and long-term alternatives planned
The City is currently implementing a multi-phase programme to improve and modernise its marine outfall infrastructure.
A R200 million refurbishment tender, awarded in November 2025 and currently in the appeal period, includes improved screening systems, upgraded odour and safety controls, pump replacements and modernised electrical and monitoring equipment.
Medium- and long-term options under feasibility include primary settling tanks, improved sludge management, full biological treatment and advanced treatment systems to remove emerging contaminants. Early estimates place the total potential cost of long-term upgrades at around R12 billion, subject to further feasibility studies and budget availability.
Civil society raises health concerns
Environmental group ReThinkTheStink has welcomed engagement from the City regarding pollution concerns at Milnerton Lagoon but says key public health issues remain unresolved.
The organisation argued that City Health had not fully exercised its statutory duties under the National Health Act, despite ongoing community exposure to pollution and reported health symptoms. It has called for formal health-risk assessments, clearer public advisories and improved monitoring at human breathing levels.
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ReThinkTheStink maintained environmental degradation should be treated as a public-health issue, and not only an ecological one.
The dispute unfolded amid broader national and continental discussions on pollution and environmental protection. Speaking at the AMCEN Ministerial Breakfast on the margins of the United Nations Environment Assembly recently, Minister Willie Aucamp highlighted Africa’s growing leadership on climate action, pollution control and biodiversity protection, including strengthened G20 influence, progress on air quality and environmental crime declarations, and the push for circular economy solutions.
Awaiting the appeal ruling
As the independent appeals panel considers ActionSA’s challenge, Badroodien said the City remains committed to transparency, scientific evidence and practical solutions.
“It is disingenuous to suggest that Cape Town’s situation mirrors failing systems elsewhere,” he said, adding that scientific data did not support claims that the City’s marine outfalls posed a risk to public health or recreational beach use.
The panel’s ruling was expected to determine the next phase in the ongoing debate over the future of Cape Town’s marine-sewage outfalls.
