Heavy rainfall across the Mother City on Tuesday resulted in flash flooding in numerous areas, particularly low-lying roads, while some canals and retention ponds filled to capacity.

The City says these incidents indicate the pressure points that need to be addressed as they are still busy preparing for the rainy season.

The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate dispatched teams to clear the affected stormwater drains from litter and debris that flushed down rivers and canals; and in some areas, teams swept roads after the flooding had subsided.

The Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas confirmed that the Metro is in the middle of its annual stormwater infrastructure cleaning programme, and Tuesday’s heavy rainfall gave them a clear indication of the pressure points that need more attention.

“These are being mapped and will be attended to. I want to assure residents and road users that our teams will keep on clearing the stormwater infrastructure, such as drains and inlets as we are getting closer to winter.”

He says the flooding of roads usually subsides within less than an hour after the rain has stopped, as stormwater infrastructure needs time to deal with the large volumes of water that enter the system in a very short space of time.

“It is similar to pulling a plug out of a full bath – it needs time to drain – our stormwater system works on the same principles.”

The City’s Transport Information Centre was inundated with calls yesterday of flooded areas, including along Elsieskraal River in Pinelands, Liesbeek River along the N2, Langa, Vygieskraal, Fish Hoek, Parow Industria, Table View and Tygervalley, to name a few.

LOOK: Numerous roads flooded after Cape Town rain

Quintas says hotspot areas around canals, retention and detention ponds and other stormwater related infrastructure have been identified to ensure they are free of rubble and debris that could prevent it from draining fast enough. If these get blocked, localised flooding will continue.

“The City maintains the stormwater system throughout the year. Annual cleaning takes place by means of a winter preparedness programme where stormwater inlets, outlets, catchpits, canals and piped systems are cleaned before the winter season.”

But the GOOD Party says the City’s winter preparation has clearly fallen short.

GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli says residents in less-affluent communities are likely to again bear the brunt this winter.

“While the City touts its efforts on climate adaptation, the vulnerable communities most at risk continue to face preventable crises year after year. This is not simply a matter of incompetence; it is a glaring display of indifference to the legacy of apartheid spatial planning and ongoing inequality.”