Residents say ongoing construction at the Fynbos Village residential project in Capri Village is generating excessive dust, affecting their homes and health.
Image: Erin Carelse
Residents in Capri Village, Fish Hoek, are frustrated over excessive dust from the Fynbos Village residential project, saying it is affecting their homes, health, and daily lives.
Kelly Burke, one of the affected residents, described the situation as unbearable.
"The dust has been horrendous. Last week, when we had that strong wind, my entire house was covered in a layer of black sand. We are being hit with the dust hectically. Our windows are so dirty we can’t see through them."
"My kids and I are struggling terribly with our sinuses and coughing a lot — it’s dust-related and definitely from the development. But they haven’t put up any measures to mitigate the dust at all. When the south-easter comes through, we are bombarded with it," she said.
Another resident, Kim Brown, said the problem has become overwhelming.
"Despite keeping all doors and windows tightly closed, we find a thick layer of sand covering every surface in our home after just one day. We are forced to clean continuously to maintain any semblance of cleanliness. Each morning, I can draw on my bedside table because of the dust. Our dogs’ bowls fill with sand daily, and we are constantly coughing and sneezing because of it."
She said the problem was relentless.
"I recently had my car detailed, only to find it filled with sand again despite efforts to protect it. Our solar panels are covered in dust, reducing their efficiency, and we’ve had to hire professionals to clean them," Ms Brown said.
Despite keeping windows and doors shut, Kim Brown says a thick layer of sand accumulates on surfaces inside her home daily.
Image: Supplied
Ms Brown says her patio, outdoor furniture, and even her pets’ water bowls are constantly coated in a layer of sand from the construction site.
Image: supplied
"I have seen diggers lifting large amounts of sand into the air while the gale-force south-easter was blowing. There has been no effort to hose down or cover the exposed areas where natural vegetation has been removed. You can physically see the plumes of sand in the air. This is no longer a manageable situation, and we need a resolution as soon as possible."
Jacqui Middleton, another resident, shared similar frustrations but also questioned what solutions were possible.
"There is a lot of dust all over our brand-new floors. We were thinking about what they could do about it. If they put up a physical barrier along their wall, it’s not going to help that much because it’s so windy here, and they’re working on top of a hill. Dampening the mounds they’re digging with water might help, but that’s such a waste of water. It’s not really up to us to find solutions," she said.
The City of Cape Town said dust control measures depend on the type of development.
"Since an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required for this project, the developer must follow an approved Environmental Management Programme (EMPr), which includes dust control measures. Compliance is monitored by an independent Environmental Control Officer, and enforcement falls under the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning," the City said.
Despite residents’ complaints, the City stated that its Specialised Environmental Health – Air Quality Management Unit has not received any formal dust-related complaints about this development.
The City said developers are expected to comply with national and municipal regulations, including the Building Standards Act and the City’s Air Quality Management Bylaw.
"If a site is found to be non-compliant, authorities can issue compliance notices, fines, or even take legal action. Developers are required to take steps to limit dust, and in some cases, air quality monitoring can be enforced as part of a Dust Management Plan," the City added.
According to the City’s mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, the only approved plans for erf 17787, Fish Hoek, are for garaging and a perimeter wall— work that typically would not generate significant dust.
"However, civil work, such as site preparation and service installation, is currently under way, which may be causing the issue. The City’s Building Inspectorate has been alerted and will investigate any potential unauthorised building work," he said.
Residents say they are hoping for immediate dust mitigation measures, including wetting down the area or covering exposed sand, to be put in place before the issue worsens.
The developer acknowledged the Echo's inquiry but did not respond at the time of going to print.
Residents can report dust concerns to the Provincial Environmental Management Inspectorate or the City’s Building Inspectorate. Complaints can also be sent to the City’s Air Quality Management Unit at AirQuality.Support@capetown.gov.za.
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