The humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers says its team will deliver much-needed aid to the town of McGregor that has been cut off from the outside world, since the Heritage long weekend’s heavy rains, which resulted in flooding and damage to infrastructure.

They have managed to find an old dirt road into the town which can only be accessed via 4×4 vehicles, with another NGO supplying vehicles for the aid operation.

The McGregor community has been isolated since the heavy downpour in Western Cape on 25 September with water gushing from two dams into rivers and streams expanding flood waters into the surroundings.

The bridge connecting the town to Robertson was seriously damaged cutting off the community from the outside world.

Sewerage contamination from overflowing domestic septic tanks pose an additional health and water risk.

There’s no availability of food, fuel, bottled water and essential supplies. There’s no money in the ATM, grants for the elderly, children and those with disabilities cannot be paid, many shops do not accept card payments, fuel and delivery vehicles cannot reach the locality.

The mayor, Western Cape and Winelands Disaster Management, Langeberg Municipality, SAPS and local communities requested the urgent assistance from Gift of the Givers.

They prepared the alternative gravel routes that will be accessible by the 4×4’s only. Working in tandem with these entities and Gift of the Giver’s partner SARZA, 4×4’s were provided.

The aid that will be delivered to McGregor includes food packs, bottled water, blankets, bread, nutritionally enriched Genesis, Eezee peanut paste, hygiene and baby packs.

Gift of the Givers has intervened providing flood relief to more than 15000 people caught up in diverse municipalities along the N1, N2 and R60, providing hot meals, mattresses, new clothing, sanitary pads, diapers and fodder for horses and farm animals.

Unfortunately, many areas have not been reached yet due to inaccessibility.