Cape Town - Cape Town residents have taken to social media to complain about a foul smell wafting across the city. It has been confirmed that it is coming from a cattle ship at the harbour.
The complaints and reports are coming in from Woodstock, Observatory, Greenpoint and, predominantly, the CBD.
City of Cape Town water and sanitation Mayco member Zahid Badroodien said Environmental Health had confirmed that the source of the stench was a ship in the harbour. The ship had arrived last night and was carrying cattle. It was due to leave the port at 9pm today.
Badroodien had previously said the City had been made aware of what was described as a sewage smell blanketing parts of the city such as Woodstock, Observatory, Greenpoint and, mainly, the CBD.
Some residents took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to complain about the pong.
How to describe the smell to someone who isn’t in the Cape Town? it’s like a sewage that’s blocked and decided to explode, mix that smell with rotten fish smell from the harbour, then add cow dung and goat pee.
— Victor Mkhetsane (@VictorMkhetsane) February 19, 2024
That’s what it smells like. It’s so distinct and off putting.
“How to describe the smell to someone who isn’t in the Cape Town? it’s like a sewage that’s blocked and decided to explode, mix that smell with rotten fish smell from the harbour, then add cow dung and goat pee. That’s what it smells like. It’s so distinct and off putting,” - @VictorMkhetsane said.
the bok en bees smell in cape town is from a ship that has cattle on it 😯![CDATA[]]>😩
— Ling Dior (@LingDeeYoh) February 19, 2024
“The bok en bees smell in cape town is from a ship that has cattle on it,” - @LingDeeYoh said.
The smell in the Cape Town air today is truly humbling me.
— Dineo Gewer (@Dineo_Jazzz) February 19, 2024
“The smell in the Cape Town air today is truly humbling me,” - @Dineo_Jazzz said.
This is an animal welfare issue.
— Greenie (@GreenieCapeTown) February 19, 2024
If a smell this foul can emanate from a ship to multiple suburbs in Cape Town - one can only imagine the conditions these poor animals are living in.
Please can you reassure us that this is being investigated and the animals are being cared for.
“This is an animal welfare issue. If a smell this foul can emanate from a ship to multiple suburbs in Cape Town - one can only imagine the conditions these poor animals are living in. Please can you reassure us that this is being investigated and the animals are being cared for.” - @GreenieCapeTown said.
terrible day to be in Cape Town , this smell ? 😭
— u’Gorgeous 💗 (@omhlemaseti) February 19, 2024
“Terrible day to be in Cape Town , this smell ?,” - @omhlemaseti said.
Does that smell represent a physical manifestation of what is rotten in the state of #CapeTown?
— adrianlouw (@adrianlouw) February 19, 2024
“Does that smell represent a physical manifestation of what is rotten in the state of CapeTown?,”- @adrianlouw asked.
Nothing beats a beautiful sunny morning in Cape Town, with a cup of coffee in hand and smell of kaka in the air 🙂
— Monique Mortlock-Malgas (@MoniqueMortlock) February 19, 2024
Clear sabotage in the City of Cape Town.
— Lester Kiewit (@lesterkk) February 19, 2024
The lingering stench is a result of a Turd Force activities.