The City of Cape Town says the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level One warning for disruptive rainfall, expected to continue across the Western Cape throughout Friday evening.
This may lead to localised flooding and worsen already challenging conditions, particularly in low-lying areas and locations where the ground is saturated.
NGO partners are on the ground providing aid. On Friday, Gift of the Givers delivered much-needed relief to Gugulethu on the Cape Flats.
It has been a difficult three days for residents of the informal settlement of Lotus Park in Gugulethu, with no successful means of keeping water out of their homes.
Residents express frustration and fatigue, as each winter brings renewed hardship.
WC Floods | Residents affected by cold and stormy weather
One Lotus Park resident says, “It’s tiring to speak about one thing the whole time, since 2003, we worry about the same thing up until now. We are really tired. We would be pleased if anyone could relocate us. First things first, this place was never serviced; it was a dumping place. They just dug the holes and the dams and put us here. It was never serviced, so when it rains a lot, the ground is getting tired and the water just comes out of the houses, you see.”
Local leaders say more than 1 700 shacks house around 5 000 people in the area.
Community leader Masibulele Tolofane explains, “It’s very stressful. It’s very frustrating to be a resident in the City of Cape Town, specifically in Guglethu, Lotus area, because every winter you are going to be swimming in water, and seemingly, the City of Cape Town does not care. They are not building houses for people. There’s not even a drainage system here. The water just goes through the houses. Behind you is a small canal, last night it became a river, and to be honest, we are seriously worried that we might find ourselves in the situation of Umthatha, because the canal was very full of water and we don’t know if the water can even come to the houses.”
The Gift of the Givers has been inundated. On Thursday, Middelpos in Saldanha Bay experienced localised flooding.
Gift of the Givers’ Corbin McKrieling says, “We got a call from Saldanha Bay Municipality Disaster Management and since Wednesday, we are just getting calls and calls of floods all over the Western Cape. We need to assist the people.
He adds, “The City of Cape Town has advised anyone who would like to donate warm clothes, blankets and non-perishable foods, among others, to drop them off at any of the City’s fire stations, day or night.”
