Well over 100 mm of rain was recorded between Monday and Tuesday this week amid ongoing wet weather predicted to continue over the weekend.
Several roads in Gordon’s Bay and Strand were overflowing with water and some streets were inaccessible during intermittent periods, such as Dennehof road and Sunset Drive, which remained mostly flooded overnight.
ACJ Phakade Primary School in Nomzamo was almost entirely surrounded by water in an ongoing drainage problem highlighted more than a year ago.
“There are no learners at school today,” said school principal Thobile Majingo on Tuesday morning. “No-one came because the water level on the road outside the school is too high. He added that they had lost several days last year due to flooding, and this year could be no different.
In Strand parts of Broadway Road were flooded on Tuesday morning and several potholes were being reported in George and Altena Road, making it more dangerous as it was hard to make out when under water.
In Rusthof, residents of 11th Street were up in arms over what they called a lack of urgency by the City of Cape Town to address flooding in the street, which resulted in water creeping into many homes. Many had expressed distress on social media over drainage challenges, which they claim is experienced annually.
Dozens of stormwater drains all over the Helderberg were also reportedly overflowing, and in some areas trees also fell down and blocked the road, such as in Aerodrome Road in Strand, near Boland College, on Tuesday morning.
In Somerset West, the underground parking at Sanctuary Shopping Centre was also flooded as well as De Beers Road, with many stormwater drains not coping with the excessive rain.
Traffic officers were monitoring the water levels on Tuesday morning at the R44 and De Beers intersection and temporarily closed the road between the Sanctuary and Burger King.
There were also reports of minor car accidents and power outages in Sir Lowry’s Pass, and motorists were advised to exercise caution along Clarence Drive where rockfalls were reported near Rooiels.
According to Subcouncil 8 chairperson Chantal Cerfontein, despite preparations ahead of the rains by cleaning and clearing drains, much more needs to be done.
“I am happy to announce that the majority of the Helderberg is doing much better than in previous years,” she said. “We do have the odd overflows but most is caused by illegal dumping flowing into the sewer systems. When residents see the sun shining they allow the dumping and when it rains they are the ones who suffer.
“We have had numerous workshops with community leadership with regards to fire and floods hosted by the City Disaster risk management. Funding has been allocated to have our canals cleaned and cleared specially in our informal areas, but we need communities to take ownership and work hand in hand with the City. We cannot do it alone.”
V
The City urged residents to report emergencies, flooded areas and blocked drains by using the online C3 Service Request tool, or to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089.
