Widespread flooding as storm batters city
Stormy weather has caused widespread flooding across the city with conditions not expected to let up until Sunday.
Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton, Dunoon, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Nomzamo in Strand, Mfuleni, Driftsands and Masiphumelele have all been hit by flooding, the City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said on Tuesday, adding that they had been inundated with service requests since Sunday.
“Assessments by the City’s informal settlements management department, assisted by the Disaster Risk Management Centre, are ongoing, and the total number of affected residents is being determined,” she said, adding that the South African Weather Service had issued an Orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain and damaging waves, for Tuesday July 9, leading to flooding and possible mudslides.
Volunteers had been mobilised to help affected communities, and extra staff would help at City call centres to deal with service requests.
“In addition, catchment management will monitor the levels of rivers and dams closely. Recreation and parks will have additional crews on standby to address any uprooted trees,” she added.
Zwelitsha, a Dunoon shanty town, was hit by flooding only last month (“Heavy rains leave misery in Zwelitsha,” Tabletalk, June 12), and now residents like Jongani Fela, are regretting moving there.
“I moved to Cape Town in 2022. I came for a better life than I was living in the Eastern Cape. And at first, things were going well. But no one had prepared me for this type of issue like the flooding situation. I have lost appliances and furniture in the past two winters because of bad weather. It has become unbearable, and I have been thinking of moving away from here. I have two children who are both under six years old and I worry about their health and safety here,” he said.
Even the more formal parts of Dunoon, such as Section 23, have not been spared the latest bout of flooding. Speaking after last Sunday’s heavy rains, resident Thando Malunga said: “Our roads are flooded, and we now worry about our houses getting damaged, and we don’t know if they will crumble or not.
“We are trying our best to keep the water out by digging trenches, putting sandbags on our stoeps and other things. We don’t know how long those efforts will last though.”
In Brooklyn, residents said some street lights had been off since the rain started on Sunday.
“There are so many streets without lights here now, and it’s quite dangerous when the sun sets. Justin Street, Plover Street, Diep Street, Haarlem Street, River Street, Shaddock Street, Amsterdam Street and Mill Street. And those are just the ones I know of,” said resident Karen May.
On Sunday at 9pm, City staff and residents worked together to clear a tree that had fallen on Humewood Drive in Table View.
Meanwhile, for some the stormy weather has proved more entertaining than anything else, with spectators gathering to watch waves crashing near the Ons Huisie Restaurant in Blouberg and surfers paddling out to ride the big waves.
“I get that some people are thrill seekers but we need to be honest and state the obvious. This is very dangerous and these waves are very unpredictable. I pray no one gets hurt in all of this,” said Blouberg resident Tanya Cloete.
With the bad weather set to continue throughout the week, the City has urged road users to take care:
- Drive slowly to avoid losing control in wet conditions.
- Keep your headlights on at all times.
- Leave earlier for your destination to allow for extra travelling time.
- Increase your following distance in traffic, in the event that you need to come to a sudden stop or slow down quickly, as it takes longer to brake in wet weather conditions.
- Check your car’s wipers, brakes, tyres and lights.
- If there are any defects, have them attended to immediately.
