Residents in parts of Rondebosch say low to zero water pressure has disrupted daily life for months. This is particularly challenging in multi-storey buildings.
Residents in parts of Rondebosch say intermittent low to zero water pressure has disrupted daily life for months. This occurs despite repeated requests for assistance.
The issue mainly affects multi-storey residential buildings between Rondebosch Station and Rondebosch Common. Complaints date back to 2023 and continued through 2025, with taps reportedly running dry during early morning peak-demand periods.
“No water supply has become a daily experience for many residents,” said Kas Chandramohan. She is the community coordinator and founder of the Rondebosch Belmont Zone.
She said the issue was initially thought to be building-specific. However, it was later identified as a broader service delivery concern through community forums.
Elderly residents, students, and working professionals have been affected. Retirement facilities, including Grosvenor Square, Evergreen, and Fairmead, are among those most impacted. Some residents reported repeated water outages in November 2025.
Residents have raised concerns about hygiene and health, saying some are unable to shower before work, school or medical appointments.
Responding to the complaints, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, said the City was aware of a complaint at the Rusdon Park building in Rondebosch.
“A City of Cape Town water inspector conducted an investigation at the property last week. The inspector recorded a static water pressure reading of 440kPa,” Badroodien said.
He said the building falls within a pressure management zone where water pressure is controlled to reduce pipe bursts.
Badroodien added that high-rise buildings are required to privately install booster pumps. This is in line with Section 24 of the City of Cape Town’s 2010 Water By-law. It ensures sufficient water supply to upper floors.
