Hundreds of structures have been completely flooded in Lwandle and Nomzamo since Sunday (7 July), when the first of several cold fronts hit the Helderberg.
By Monday (8 July) there were reports of more than 300 residents standing in long queues in the township, waiting for humanitarian NGO Gift of the Givers to provide warm food, blankets and toiletries.
Ali Sablay, Gift of the Givers project manager, said conditions in parts of the city were not fit for human life.
“Children are shivering from the cold, the weather has really damaged a lot of people’s homes in informal settlements, and we are trying to assist as best we can,” he said.
Additional flooding incidents also affected homes in Sir Lowry’s Pass.
Another cold front saw heavy downpours on the morning of Tuesday (9 July), the sort of weather that causes landslides, and which was expected to worsen the conditions of those affected.
Subcouncil 8 chairperson and Ward 85 councillor Chantal Cerfontein said she had asked the affected community to talk to their local church leaders to assist with accommodation. “Unfortunately the City does not have facilities to accommodate all those affected,” she pointed out.
“With these heavy rains, the water levels have significantly risen along rivers, canals and ponds, and people living nearby are bearing the brunt. There is really nothing more I can do. However, we have had the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation teams in the area over the past few weeks, trying to unblock the drains, but with great difficulty.
“Siyanyanzela informal settlement in Lwandle is the most affected at the moment and due to the fact that there are already residents accommodated in the Nomzamo Community Hall, we have no other spaces.”
On Tuesday morning parts of Beach Road, Strand, were flooded and the intersection with Sarel Cilliers Street temporarily closed.
Rough seas in the vicinity of Bikini Beach in Gordon’s Bay resulted in huge waves crashing on the road as some homes sustained minor damages.
There were also reports of litter all across the beach at Greenways and Cayman Beach, spewed onto the shore by the storm. The rubbish has, at some point, initially entered the ocean due to stormwater ingress and dumping in rivers.
Several stormwater and sewage drains were also overflowing profusely – some into homes in Strand – as the City struggled to keep up with service requests.
V For flooding emergencies contact the Public Emergency Centre on 021 480 7700 from any phone or 107 from a landline.
