Cape Town expands taps and toilets across informal settlements
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The City of Cape Town says its Informal Settlements and Basic Services programme has now delivered 69,194 toilets and 10,101 taps across 848 informal settlements, with a further R44 million allocated for the 2026/27 financial year.
The City of Cape Town says the latest rollout of its Informal Settlements and Basic Services (ISBS) programme has brought the total to 69,194 toilets and 10,101 taps across 848 informal settlements. The Water and Sanitation Directorate invested approximately R46 million in basic services during the past financial year, with the services provided to residents at no cost and maintenance and repairs also funded by the City.
The programme exceeded its original targets for 2025/26, when the City had planned to install 750 taps and 4,500 toilets. According to the City, the additional work followed requests from newly established informal settlements as well as the replacement of prefabricated toilets that had reached the end of their operational lifespan.
The completed work means more than 20,375 households gained new access to clean water, while more than 15,193 households benefited from improved sanitation services. Maintenance remained part of the programme, with City teams attending to 20,151 service requests across informal settlements during the financial year.
Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay was among the communities to benefit. During an oversight visit to the area, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Alderman Zahid Badroodien, accompanied by Ward 74 Councillor Roberto Quintas, inspected infrastructure delivered through an investment of R1.8 million during 2025/26, including 110 new full-flush toilets and 34 taps.
"Access to clean water and safe sanitation is fundamental to the dignity and quality of life of our residents. During the past financial year, our teams delivered thousands of new taps and toilets while continuing to maintain existing services across informal settlements," Badroodien said. He acknowledged the challenges of delivering and maintaining infrastructure in these communities but said the City remains committed to expanding access wherever it is legally and physically possible.
The next phase is set to continue across several parts of Cape Town, with the City allocating a further R44 million to ISBS services for the 2026/27 financial year and planned installations in Gugulethu, Delft, Khayelitsha, Blue Downs, Philippi, Hout Bay, Kraaifontein, Langa, Bloekombos, Strandfontein, Nyanga and Dunoon.