The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has installed its first smart water meter in Bellville, marking the official start of a citywide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) aimed at improving water management, detecting leaks early and improving billing accuracy.

The City says the programme forms part of a broader plan to modernise water services by gradually replacing mechanical water meters with digital technology.

Around R1.1 billion has been allocated to the first phase of the project, which will see about 83 000 existing meters replaced over the next three years. In the long term, more than 680 000 water meters across the metro are expected to be upgraded.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, says the new system will help residents monitor their water usage and save money.

“Installing smart water meters makes it easier to detect and attend to water leaks, resulting in water savings. Residents will also be able to track the volume of water consumed on their properties on the City’s App, to save money on their water bills.”

The rollout will happen in phases until February 2029, with installations currently continuing in Oakglen and Bellville before expanding to other areas across the City.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) says it reported successful operations in combating crime at its parks over the long weekend, which led to the arrests of several poachers across key areas of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

On Thursday, four suspects were arrested during a targeted night operation in the southern section of the park. SANParks says the operation focused on suspected abalone poaching camp sweeps and gathering ground intelligence.

“During patrols between Smitswinkel and Black Rocks, K9s successfully tracked suspects, leading to the apprehension of three individuals. A fourth suspect attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by another member of the K9 unit.”

SANParks says that while officers were making their way to the police station, two additional suspects were arrested linked to abalone poaching activities.

“All suspects were arrested, poaching equipment was confiscated, and the individuals were handed over to SAPS for further processing.”

Meanwhile, in Lion’s Head, a suspect was arrested after a failed attempt to flee the scene following the theft of items from a parked vehicle.

“The individual was blocked before leaving the scene, and stolen property was recovered. The suspect admitted to the theft and was handed over to SAPS for processing.”

In a separate incident, authorities received a tip-off about suspected fynbos poaching on Devil’s Peak.

“SANParks Operations Room coordinated and located the suspects and directed rangers to the scene, resulting in a successful apprehension.”

The Western Cape Department of Local Government has released the findings of its updated “Basket of Services” research project, which recommends increasing the free basic electricity and water allocations for indigent citizens.

This Department says the study is a critical update to an initial 2019 report, marking a shift in how the provincial government views the provision of Free Basic Services (FBS).

MEC Anton Bredell says they are moving away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach toward a Co-responsibility Model.

“This involves working across provincial departments to ensure that basic services act as a springboard for social mobility. The goal is to help indigent citizens break the cycle of poverty, moving from basic survival to a dignified life where they can eventually exit the indigent program and contribute economically to society.”

The research highlights that current legislative minimum Free Basic Services, such as 6kl of water and 50kWh of electricity, are increasingly insufficient in the current context.

“While most Western Cape municipalities meet or exceed these minimums, the study found that rising tariffs and inflation mean indigent households often exhaust their free allocations mid-month, forcing them to choose between essential services and other basic needs like food or medicine.”

To bridge this gap, the study has recommended a recalibration of service levels to create an “Enabling Dignified Basket of Services.”

Key suggestions include:

• Water: Increasing free allocations to 10.5kl per household to better reflect health and hygiene needs.
• Energy: Moving toward a 150kWh monthly threshold to support modern household requirements.
• Connectivity: Recognising internet access as an essential service to enable job-seeking and educational advancement.

The City of Cape Town already offers a free water allocation of 15kl per household for indigent persons, and up to 60kWh of free electricity.

Bredell says his Department will now enter a period of intensive consultation with municipalities to ensure that increases in service levels do not compromise municipal finances.

They will also partner with other provincial departments to explore how resources can supplement municipal efforts.

He says following consultations, a phased implementation plan will be developed, which will need to strike a balance between the long-term financial sustainability of municipalities, while supporting those who need it most.

The Western Cape continues to grapple with a troubling rise in drug-related crime, as law enforcement authorities intensify operations across communities increasingly affected by substance abuse and trafficking.

In the latest incident, a 29-year-old man is due to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrates’ Court on charges of drug possession following a targeted police operation. The operation uncovered a significant quantity of drugs hidden inside a residential property and led to his arrest yesterday.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says members of Operation Prosper, deployed in Steenberg and Muizenberg, acted on intelligence that led them to a house in Orchard Street, Hillview.

“The members were conducting crime prevention operations in the Hillview area when they received information about drugs at a premises on Orchard Street. They followed up the information and searched the identified premises. During the search, the members found 27 mandrax tablets, 16.94 grams of uncut methamphetamine and 86 small sachets containing methamphetamine hidden in the oven in the house.”

Police spokesperson Vincent Mukhathi says the arrest forms part of a wider national crackdown that has seen thousands of suspects taken in within just one week, with the Western Cape recording the highest number of drug-related arrests across all provinces.

“Between 20 and 26 April 2026, nationwide operations led to the arrest of 15,367 suspects for various crimes. These include 284 alleged drug dealers and 2,241 suspects arrested for possession of drugs, with the highest number of arrests recorded in the Western Cape (1,063),” Mukhathi added.