Cape Town has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to restore Zeekoevlei, as dredging operations have transitioned from Storm Bay to Home Bay following nearly a year of intensive work. This marks the first time in 42 years that dredging has been conducted at Zeekoevlei. Since the project commenced in June 2025, over 207,000 cubic meters of sediment have been successfully removed from Storm Bay.
In the next phase, the focus will shift to Home Bay, where city officials anticipate the removal of an additional 157,000 cubic meters of sediment over the coming 10 months. The dredging initiative is designed to enhance water quality and revive the vlei’s ecosystem by eliminating decades of accumulated sediment and surplus nutrients that have led to environmental degradation.
According to Eddie Andrews, the project represents a part of the city’s broader, long-term strategy to restore and safeguard crucial water bodies and natural ecosystems. The transition of dredging equipment was a complex endeavor, involving the installation of an extra two kilometers of pipeline and the relocation of heavy mooring blocks across the water.
Once extracted, the sediment is transported via a 6.3-kilometer slurry pipeline to dewatering ponds, where it undergoes a drying and storage process. The City of Cape Town continues to monitor progress through regular hydrographic surveys, with the entire restoration project scheduled for completion by early 2027.