Misery is mounting in the areas worst hit by the downpours that have pummelled the region, leaving a farm worker dead and more than 16,300 residents living in damp and deteriorating conditions.
And as stormwater flows into sewerage pipes in areas such as Gugulethu, fears are growing of an outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Last night, people living near the Olifants River in Clanwilliam were preparing to leave their homes after the river burst its banks.
The Huguenot Tunnel was closed after rockfalls on the Worcester side.
Community Safety spokesperson Makhaya Mani said the route had to be closed as a precaution and would be opened once the weather cleared. Meanwhile, motorists were being diverted to alternative routes, Mani said.
On Monday, more than 16,000 people were being helped in Cape Town by relief agencies.
Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, spokesperson for the city's disaster risk management centre, said heavy rain was forecast to persist until Wednesday evening, continuing to put a strain on relief operations.
Scores of other areas, among them Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain and Ottery, were also badly affected by the rain. In Kosovo, near Philippi, streets were turned into little lakes and the water rose ankle-high in shacks.
In Khayelitsha, people took to the streets last night. A small group of angry people threw stones and blocked parts of the N2. The police's flying squad quelled the crowd. Police spokesperson Elliot Sinyangana said the group were angry about their homes being flooded.
"It was just a small group of people," Sinyangana said. "They say they need help with the problem of flooding."
While disaster management response teams continued mopping up efforts, food, blankets and other relief supplies were being provided by a range of non-governmental organisations. Three community halls and a sports complex had been opened to provide shelter for people whose homes were flooded.
City stormwater staff were "pumping out" water standing in pools in informal settlements to reduce health risks.
The SA Weather Service has forecast that the heavy rain will persist until tomorrow evening.
"The preparedness and response strategy of the City of Cape Town has been stepped up and the disaster response teams are on full alert," the disaster management centre said.
It said people could reduce the risk of their homes being flooded by raising their floors to a level higher than the ground outside. Also, they could move to higher ground if they stayed in an area prone to flooding.
Alfred Mendis, 33, pointing to a flooded street, said it was "something like" the conditions in the shack he shared with his pregnant wife and two-year-old child. Artwell Peter, 34, watched as children played in the puddles left when drains overflowed, and said he was worried the little ones would fall ill.
"They don't know it's dangerous - they're enjoying it," he said ruefully...
- Cape Times
And as stormwater flows into sewerage pipes in areas such as Gugulethu, fears are growing of an outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Last night, people living near the Olifants River in Clanwilliam were preparing to leave their homes after the river burst its banks.
The Huguenot Tunnel was closed after rockfalls on the Worcester side.
Community Safety spokesperson Makhaya Mani said the route had to be closed as a precaution and would be opened once the weather cleared. Meanwhile, motorists were being diverted to alternative routes, Mani said.
On Monday, more than 16,000 people were being helped in Cape Town by relief agencies.
Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, spokesperson for the city's disaster risk management centre, said heavy rain was forecast to persist until Wednesday evening, continuing to put a strain on relief operations.
Scores of other areas, among them Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain and Ottery, were also badly affected by the rain. In Kosovo, near Philippi, streets were turned into little lakes and the water rose ankle-high in shacks.
In Khayelitsha, people took to the streets last night. A small group of angry people threw stones and blocked parts of the N2. The police's flying squad quelled the crowd. Police spokesperson Elliot Sinyangana said the group were angry about their homes being flooded.
"It was just a small group of people," Sinyangana said. "They say they need help with the problem of flooding."
While disaster management response teams continued mopping up efforts, food, blankets and other relief supplies were being provided by a range of non-governmental organisations. Three community halls and a sports complex had been opened to provide shelter for people whose homes were flooded.
City stormwater staff were "pumping out" water standing in pools in informal settlements to reduce health risks.
The SA Weather Service has forecast that the heavy rain will persist until tomorrow evening.
"The preparedness and response strategy of the City of Cape Town has been stepped up and the disaster response teams are on full alert," the disaster management centre said.
It said people could reduce the risk of their homes being flooded by raising their floors to a level higher than the ground outside. Also, they could move to higher ground if they stayed in an area prone to flooding.
Alfred Mendis, 33, pointing to a flooded street, said it was "something like" the conditions in the shack he shared with his pregnant wife and two-year-old child. Artwell Peter, 34, watched as children played in the puddles left when drains overflowed, and said he was worried the little ones would fall ill.
"They don't know it's dangerous - they're enjoying it," he said ruefully...
- Cape Times
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