Partnership strengthens flood preparedness in Khayelitsha
03 September 2026
A partnership between the City of Cape Town, People’s Environmental Planning (PEP) and residents at RR Section in Khayelitsha, has helped the community to mitigate flooding through practical action, local knowledge and improved early-warning systems.
The project, supported through the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate grant funding initiative, ran from February to July 2026. It focused on identifying local flood risks, strengthening community preparedness and implementing practical measures to reduce the impact of flooding during seasonal rain.
Residents worked with PEP and City officials to identify flood-prone areas during workshops and through mapping exercises, then used the information to develop flood-risk maps to support future planning. The project also tested existing community WhatsApp groups as an early-warning network. On three occasions, official severe-weather warnings were shared through the groups, with simplified messages translated into isiXhosa by local leaders. Preliminary feedback indicated that the warnings were circulated across RR Section.
The community also took direct action to address local risks. More than 60 residents participated in a clean-up near the railway line, removing accumulated litter and dirty water from an excavated hole. Following concerns about drainage, a site visit by the Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Alderman Zahid Badroodien, and City officials led to a bulldozer being dispatched to dredge the canal and improve drainage.
A youth workshop also attracted 46 young residents and resulted in the formation of a group interested in supporting future flood mitigation activities.
‘Communities know their areas and the challenges they face better than anyone. By combining this local knowledge with the expertise of the City and our partners, we were able to take practical steps to address some of the flood risks in RR Section. This project shows the value of working together to help communities prepare for and respond to flooding,’ said Alderman Badroodien.
‘There is great potential for pro-active interventions to anticipate and reduce the impact of winter flooding well before it occurs in informal settlements. This can be achieved by working closely with communities and unlocking local potential and capacity, but must be supported by the City. Embedding this work in the City as a long-term process, and not a once-off intervention is the keystone for future success,’ said Noah Schermbrucker, executive director of PEP.
Caption 1: Flood-risk mapping was a key outcome of the project. Dr Patricia Zweig (front right), an expert in disaster risk reduction, led the programme on behalf of PEP.
Caption 2: More than 60 community members participated in a clean-up near the railway line, removing accumulated rubbish and dirty water from an excavated hole.
Caption 3: Alderman Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation (middle), with representatives of People’s Environmental Planning during a site visit to RR Section informal settlement in Khayelitsha.
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