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Zandvlei Catchment Rivers

Image by Carol Howes

The source of all the rivers of Zandvlei rise in the Cape Peninsula Mountains. The Diep River has the longest course, approximately 15 kilometers from source to Zandvlei. These rivers are the life blood of Zandvlei and have to be carefully monitored to make sure of the sustainability of Zandvlei.

Zandvlei is an estuary, which has a delicate, cyclic and seasonal balance of sea to fresh water mix. This mix determines its life supporting capabilities.

Developments along the water courses have impacted negatively, in that excessive nutrients (fertilisers) and sediments (top soil erosion) are being deposited in Zandvlei in the high run off periods.

Also seriously affecting the rivers is lack of regular road gutter and storm water drain sump cleaning. The silt ends up in the storm water drains which feeds into the rivers and then into Zandvlei. If damming and water extraction of these rivers is not carefully controlled, the inflow to Zandvlei can be seriously affected.


Prinskasteel River in May 2010.
photograph by Greg Morgan


Prinskasteel River in May 2007.
photograph by Greg Morgan

Map of the Zandvlei catchment rivers and boundaries

Zandvlei Catchment Management boundaries, November 2015.

zvt-srcf zandvlei catchment 2002Download

Catchment Rivers

Sand River

This is the confluence of the Sand River into the Langevlei River, in a flood plain, South of Coniston Park.

Langevlei River

The old litter trap in the Langevlei canal which were moved about 100 meters North upstream, to a new location. The moving of the litter trap is part of the Wetland development project.

Keyser River

This view is South from the pipe crossing, close to where the proposed Steenberg Road would cross the Keyser River. There is a Metro suburban train passing on the left.
This view is North from the pipe crossing, towards Military Road. The mountain on the left is Devil’s Peak.

This is the confluence of the Keyser and Westlake Rivers at the railway bridge between Steenberg and Lakeside Railway stations. The view is looking West, toward Constantia Mountain.

Westlake River

This view is East where the Westlake River crosses the Main Road at Lakeside. The bridge is often called Thirteen Mile Bridge. Taking its name from the ‘13 mile stone marker’, this is the distance from the Town House in central Cape Town. The stone is about 100meters North of the bridge.
The inscription reads ’13 (in Roman numerals)  miles from the Town House’.
This is the other side of ’13 mile bridge’ as the Westlake River enters the Westlake Wetlands looking East.

Grootboschkloof River

This is where one of the tributaries of the Grootboschkloof River crosses the M42 in Constantia.

Prinskasteel River

This view is looking West towards Constatiaberg in Tokai, where one of the tributaries of the Prinseskasteel River crosses under the M42.

Spaanschemat River

This is the bridge where the Spaanschemat River crosses the M42 at the Peddlers on the Bend restaurant.