Residents of Down Town informal settlement face ongoing water shortages

Residents of the Down Town informal settlement in Philippi are raising alarm over ongoing water shortages, despite the visible presence of taps in their community.

Situated alongside the railway tracks, many families said they are forced to go without water during most of the day, with sporadic access only late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

While infrastructure has been installed to improve water access, residents argue that the taps remain largely symbolic, as they often run dry when water is needed most.

“We have taps, but no water comes out of them most of the time,” said community leader Bulelani Ncilashe, adding that sometimes water comes late at night, when most people are asleep.

"How are families supposed to cook, clean, or bathe under these conditions?”

Mr Ncilashe said the issue has persisted for months, with little to no progress. He claims they have reported the matter repeatedly to their local ward councillor, but their appeals have gone unanswered.

“The taps are essentially useless. What is the point of installing infrastructure if it doesn’t function properly?” he asked.

“We’ve made the calls. We’ve submitted complaints. But we are still waiting.”

For many living in informal conditions, access to clean, running water remains a basic but unmet need, he said.

The inconsistent supply has forced some households to adapt by collecting water during the few hours it becomes available - often during the middle of the night.

A mother of three, Nolusindiso Makoba, said she wakes up at 2am to fill buckets and bottles.

“If you miss that window, you go without water for the whole day,” she said.

“It’s exhausting and unfair.”

The situation has raised broader concerns around service delivery and the inequalities that persist in under-resourced communities like Down Town. As residents continue to wait for a reliable solution, frustration and fatigue are growing in a community that said it feels increasingly neglected.

The City of Cape Town has confirmed that maintenance teams have been deployed to address the issue.

The City's mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodi, said the City was aware of the matter following a recent site visit.

“The water and sanitation team recently visited Shanty Down Town informal settlement (otherwise known as Malema 1 or Downtown) and found defective taps and missing standpipes in the area,” said Mr  Badroodien.

“A team is currently attending to these defects today and will continue tomorrow, with relevant safety measures considered. The team will also carry out a further inspection in response to the concerns raised by residents, and will address any issues identified, providing feedback on their findings.”

 Mr Badroodien also urged residents to use municipal infrastructure responsibly to help maintain its condition and ensure continued access.

“Residents will also need to assist us and play their part in using the infrastructure and resources responsibly to maintain their integrity and keep them in good working order,” he said.

The City further encouraged residents to report any vandalism or disruptions in the water supply to the City’s contact centre, he said.

“We rely on residents to report incidents of vandalism to critical water infrastructure, or should there be disruptions in supply, and encourage them to contact the City’s contact centre to report these issues via the dedicated channels. Please also remember to keep the reference number to follow up on the request,” Mr Badroodien added.