Flood victims come to terms with their new living conditions

With more rain on the cards, distraught flood victims from Khunkqu section in Taiwan informal settlement, Site C, are appealing to the City of Cape Town to relocate them to a safer area.

More than 300 people, including the children, were evacuated from the area to Fulani Community Hall as authorities battled to keep up with the number of people affected by the floods.

Khunkqu is one of the areas that were severely affected by the recent torrential rains and scores of destitute people have been placed in a local community hall.

In an interview with City Vision, one of the victims, Nolusindiso Toza, said they have been in the facility for two weeks and are unsure about the future. “Our shacks are in a terrible state. We had to evacuate due to flooding. Our fridges, cupboards, wardrobes, and couches were damaged by the water, and could not save them. There is no way we could have survived there because in some shacks the water was knee-high,” said Toza.

She said all they want are temporary structures and a suitable piece of land to put up the structures.

Toza said annually they are facing similar challenges. “What is painful is that there are elderly people and children who stay here. The hall is too cold, but we are staying because we don’t have a choice,” she stated.

Community leader Viwe Martins praised the Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama for his support. He said Kama ensures they don’t go to bed hungry. “We have been getting food three times a day since we moved here. Our councillor is with us. But, what we want now is a safe place to stay. The City says nothing about building the houses for us. All we need now is a piece of land. We don’t mind using our own material to rebuild our shacks. The fact is, we are not safe here. Our lives are in danger,” he said, adding that some residents refused to leave their shacks to guard their stuff.

Martins said that there is no privacy in the hall. He said men sleep on one side and women on the other side. “We have our own rules to keep the order. We close the hall at 23:00. Women have their own toilets and men as well. Two for male and two for women. They also use them to bathe,” he explained.

Martins said they will stay at the facility until the rain stops.

Kama urged the local businesses to come on board and assist the flood victims. “The Taiwan informal area was part of the N2 Gateway Housing Project which was under the provincial Department of Infrastructure. After the City took it over, it started the whole process from scratch,” said Kama.

Meanwhile, more rain and cold weather are expected from today into the weekend.

The South African Weather Service has warned of severely cold, wet, and windy weather conditions in the Western Cape. A cold front will sweep through the area and make landfall on Friday 11 July. Temperatures could drop to as low as 10 degrees in some areas, while wind speed is expected to pick up to 30 km/h.