Cape Town - The heavy rains this week has seen thousands receiving relief aid from the city, a mini mudslide in Hout Bay, several accidents and multiple road closures.
The City of Cape Town says it has spent more than R2 million in helping the nearly 10 000 people worst affected by heavy rains and cold weather that have been wreaking havoc around the city since Monday night.
The R2.6m spent by the city went toward supplying those affected with blankets, food and building materials.
Disaster management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said 62 areas throughout the metro, comprising more than 3 000 households, had been affected in the past week.
Mayor Patricia de Lille said the city appreciated the effort put in by the disaster teams and civic organisations.
“As much as we want to assist every resident who has been affected by the current storms, we are not always able to do so due to the strain on already limited resources. I appeal to all businesses, community organisations and residents to contribute anything they can to help those who are affected.”
Residents of QQ Section in Khayelitsha try to get their homes dry. Photo: David Ritchie
Cape Argus
The city has handed out 12 943 blankets, 349 baby kits, 2 250 meals and building materials consisting of roof sheets, wooden poles, plastic sheets and nails by Thursday night.
The city’s disaster response teams provided relief aid to individuals and households in Atlantis, Bishop Lavis, Cross Roads, Delft, Du Noon, Durbanville, Eerste River, Faure, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Lotus River, Macassar, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Ocean View, Philippi, Retreat, Scottsville, Simon’s Town, Strand, Uitsig and Valhalla Park.
Quinton Fortune, a resident from the Vrygrond informal settlement in Kuils River, said he stayed away from work because he couldn’t leave his goods floating in water. The water in his home had risen to ankle deep.
Other residents were packing sand around their homes in an attempt to prevent further water seepage.
The rains also caused a minor landslide near Hangberg in Hout Bay on Thursday morning. No injuries were reported.
Meanwhile in Site-B’s QQ Section residents said they had not received any aid despite Mthobeli Qona, a community leader, writing to the city.
Parts of the mountain slope in Hangberg gave way after heavy rainfall in Cape Town. Photo: Ross Jansen
Cape Argus
Jason van Veyeren, general manager at the River Club in Observatory, said motorists could not enter the premises because of a pool of water on the access road.
Motorists have been warned to be extra vigilant on the roads as heavy rains are forecast for the weekend.
Eight accidents were reported in just over six hours and several roads were closed on Thursday. Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said none of the accidents was serious.
Among the roads closed was the R45 near Paarl, the road between the M7 and M19 on the West Coast and Vissershok Road near Durbanville.
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