Zeekoevlei, which is used by numerous sailing, rowing, and other recreational clubs, has been closed since December due to dangerous levels of toxins caused by algal blooms.<\/p>\n
The toxin microcystin is produced by a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria. It is also referred to as blue-green algae although it is not an algae. Rapid growth, or \u2018blooms\u2019 of cyanobacteria are caused by excess nutrients in water \u2013 mostly due to sewage pollution and from agricultural fertilisers \u2013 combined with hot weather. Microcystins have several serious ill effects on health, including severe liver damage.<\/p>\n
Zeekoevlei is a critical part of the City-managed False Bay Nature Reserve, and a listed Ramsar Site, making it a wetland of international importance.<\/p>\n
The Ramsar Convention aims to protect wetlands that are \u201cvital for human survival\u201d.<\/p>\n
But Zeekoevlei is fed by the Big and Little Lotus rivers, which run through polluted urban areas. The Big Lotus River is the more polluted of the two. It rises just south of the Cape Town International Airport and is canalised for most of its course, flowing through numerous informal settlements and light industrial areas, as well as heavily fertilised farmland in Philippi.<\/p>\n
The vlei has been closed several times in the past due to elevated pollution levels, which include faecal bacteria, nitrates and phosphates. In March 2022, GroundUp reported that the prolonged closure of Rietvlei, and Zeekoevlei, along with other water bodies, hit local businesses and prevented the public, particularly children, and members of canoeing and rowing clubs, from engaging in water sports.<\/p>\n
In August 2023, we reported that the City of Cape Town suspended recreational fishing at Zeekoevlei because the fish were \u201dnot considered safe for human consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Zeekoevlei Yacht Club, in a letter to the mayor, states that the vlei, bordered by Grassy Park, Lavender Hill, and Pelikan Park, is an \u201ceconomic lifeline\u201d to the yacht club and other sports clubs, as well as the communities surrounding it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a vital public resource,\u201d states the letter.<\/p>\n
The yacht club stated the pollution is due to the City\u2019s \u201cinaction to stem the incoming polluted wastewater through the Little and Big Lotus Rivers\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe continued closure of Zeekoevlei in the absence of publicly disclosed evidence, defined timelines, and stakeholder consultation raises serious concerns regarding compliance with these legal duties,\u201d reads the letter.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nZeekoevlei is fed by the Big and Little Lotus rivers, which run through polluted urban areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The City has been dredging Zeekoevlei since June last year to reduce \u201corganic rich sediment from the Vlei bed,\u201d stated deputy mayor and mayco member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews.<\/p>\n
\u201cImproving the water quality at Zeekoevlei is one of our top priorities. The dredging will assist in removing pollutants and improving the overall health of this ecosystem. The intention is to dredge and remove as much of the nutrient rich sediment as possible over a period of two years or so,\u201d said Andrews.<\/p>\n
The City\u2019s answers to follow-up questions from GroundUp revealed the dredging budget is more than R125-million.<\/p>\n
Andrews added that at least two consecutive toxin readings of less than 20 micrograms per litre were needed before the vlei can be reopened. Currently, readings from 16 February were as high as 276 micrograms per litre.<\/p>\n
Yacht club commodore Lara Dugas said the dredging was pointless without stemming the ongoing sources of pollution.<\/p>\n
Dugas told GroundUp the situation \u201cwas absolutely shocking\u201d, and closure affected at least six schools.<\/p>\n
Independent freshwater ecologist Liz Day said the \u201csustained algal bloom and sustained high levels of toxicity\u201d point to Zeekoevlei\u2019s ecology being in a critical state due to excessive nutrients.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s really an alarm that the system needs urgent attention. There are a lot of livelihoods that depend on being able to use the vlei,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Friends of Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei chairperson Sidney Jacobs said the vlei and surrounding area were critical for their protected biodiversity, which was being threatened by continued pollution.<\/p>\n
Amidst the approximately 256 indigenous plant species in the area, there are two species of erica which are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else.<\/p>\n
Zeekoevlei and the surrounding nature reserve are also home to 60% of the south-western Cape\u2019s bird species.<\/p>\n
The City\u2019s mayco member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said Zeekoevlei\u2019s catchment area is \u201cone of the City\u2019s most complex and environmentally sensitive systems\u201d.<\/p>\n
Badroodien said pollution was widespread across the catchment and originates from multiple sources. Addressing this, he said, required sustained, coordinated interventions rather than isolated, once-off actions.<\/p>\n
Badroodien said the water and sanitation department, along with numerous other departments, was developing an action plan to focus on areas which contributed the most pollution.<\/p>\n
He said the work was \u201ccomplex and will take time\u201d, but \u201cimmediate mitigation actions\u201d were ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 GroundUp. This article was first published here.<\/p>\n
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