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‘Level 8 storm’ on the way: City hit as 70 neighborhoods report flooded roads and homes by Andre Smit
Volkspower News reported earlier this morning that more severe weather was forecast for Cape Town. The Alert has since been upgraded from a level 6 to a level 8 alert.
Cape Town – While torrential rains and heavy winds continue to hit the metro, a Level 8 warning has been issued that it is likely to get worse tomorrow.
Several roads have already flooded while hundreds of homes continue to get waterlogged, with the N2 in particular going out to Robert Sobukwe, the M3 inbound to Woolsack Drive, and the N1 coming in front of Koeberg Road, the City said.
The SA Weather Services said the storm had been upgraded from level 6 today to a level 8 tomorrow.
“Disruptive rains that will lead to flooding and possible mudslides are expected over the City of Cape Town, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities on Thursday,” the statement said.
The City’s disaster operations centre said it had received calls related to flooding affecting parts of Khayelitsha, Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Nomzamo in Strand, Mfuleni, Driftsands, Masiphumelele, Dunoon and Gugulethu.
After a site visit to Dunoon, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City’s Roads infrastructure and Stormwater crews are dealing with severe local flooding across the City.
“We have more than 70 neighbourhoods across the City currently reporting severely flooded roads and waterlogged houses, with over 7 000 structures mainly affected in informal settlements.”
Hill-Lewis said the Liesbeek, Lotus and Eerste Rivers burst their banks.
With more rain expected this week, more canals and rivers are expected to suffer a similar fate, he said.
As learners were expected to return to school yesterday, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said 82 schools had reported damage from the weather.
While the department has received criticism for its decision to reopen amid the weather warnings, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the alert levels issued and advice given did not warrant a complete closure.
Hammond said of 1,550 schools, only five elementary schools need closure.
“The schools are closed due to either flooding, inaccessibility to access routes and damage to the school building,” Hammond said.
Stanley Chilambe, teacher of Pinelands North Elementary School, Grade 6, said schools should only open if they can operate safely under current conditions. Given the country’s challenges and inequalities, not all schools have been able to do so, he said.
“It is crucial that we address critically to make schools safe for all children, not just some. Floods of this nature occur every year, but the WCED is consistently caught unprepared, and it is often the same schools in the same areas that are affected,” Chilambe said.
Disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) has been on the ground since Friday, helping displaced people and other affected communities.
GoTG project manager Ali Sablay said 22,350 people were reportedly displaced and needed help.
Speaking from Drommedaris, Paarl, Sablay said: “It is completely heartbreaking to see here of old people and children’s homes that have been completely washed out. These people are seeking a temporary shelter. It’s thousands of people.”
In Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, residents lifted and cleaned drains themselves yesterday so the water could regress.
Rocklands resident Pastor Kyle Appollis said, “When I looked out the window, I saw that it was flooded. Everywhere I looked, it was flooded. When I walked out of my house, our whole yard was flooded.”
No one could get in or out, he said.
“We were stuck. I couldn’t use my car to pull out or anything and apparently the drains were lifted as well.”
The City has asked for donations in the form of non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, diapers, infant formula, blankets and construction materials such as wood and corrugated iron.
Donations can be dropped off at the fire stations in Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Goodwood, Ottery, Roeland Street and Lakeside.
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