Cape Town has achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing restoration of Zeekoevlei, as dredging operations transition from Storm Bay to Home Bay. This marks the first dredging activity at Zeekoevlei in over four decades. Since the project commenced in June 2025, over 207,000 cubic meters of sediment have been successfully removed from Storm Bay.
The restoration effort now shifts focus to Home Bay, where the removal of an additional 157,000 cubic meters of sediment is planned over the coming 10 months. This environmental restoration initiative aims to enhance water quality and rejuvenate the vlei’s ecosystem by eliminating years of built-up sediment and surplus nutrients that have led to environmental deterioration.
Eddie Andrews emphasized that the dredging project is integral to the city’s broader strategy to rehabilitate and safeguard essential water bodies and natural ecosystems. Relocating the dredging equipment presented logistical challenges, involving the installation of an extra two kilometers of pipeline and the repositioning of heavy mooring blocks across the water.
The extracted sediment is transported via a 6.3-kilometer slurry pipeline to dewatering ponds, where it undergoes drying and storage. City officials have committed to monitoring progress through regular hydrographic surveys, with the entire restoration project slated for completion by early 2027.