A City Traffic Officer has helped to save the life of a councillor! The incident happened earlier this month on the N1. This week, Officer Anathi Ndyalvan was thanked for his help in saving the life of Councillor Sue Van der Linde.

Mayco Member, JP Smith says, “These anecdotes are all proof that there is plenty of care and quick thinking in our Traffic Service.”

A City Traffic Officer has helped to save the life of a councillor

The story unfolded on the 4th of May, when local councillor Sue Van der Linde was driving on the N1. She was starting to feel ill behind the wheel, and it’s reported that she just made it into the emergency lane before passing out.

It was at this time that Traffic Officer Anathi Ndyalvan stopped to assist. According to a media statement, he recognised an urgent need for medical care. Ndyalvan took it upon himself to drive Van der Linde to a nearby hospital. He opted not to wait for an ambulance on the side of the road.

“The City’s Traffic Service to the rescue – again!”

 

The councillor had suffered a stroke while driving

A local ER doctor later revealed that the councillor had suffered a stroke. The doctor further stated that the swift action of the officer had helped to save her life. Councillor van der Linde says the ER doctor said that out of every stroke, there are only about 2% of people who make it in time for the injection. She added that if it had been half an hour later, they would not have dispensed the medication to her, because of the risk.

“A City Traffic Officer was this week treated to a surprise appreciation for his swift action in a medical emergency recently, which helped to save the life of a local councillor.”

 

The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says every day, traffic officers across the Safety and Security Directorate do amazing things. Smith says he has been informed of experiences by motorists and the relief they feel when one of our vehicles arrives to assist.

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture says last week’s severe weather has had a significant impact on the sector, with damage assessments now underway.

ALSO READ: Western Cape counts cost of devastating storms

A series of intense cold fronts resulted in widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to farming communities across key regions.

MEC Ivan Meyer says extensive damage has been reported in areas such as the Hex River Valley, Grabouw/Elgin, and the Ceres and Worcester regions.

Flooding has devastated vineyards, orchards, and cropland, with some farmers reporting the complete loss of harvests, including apple crops in Grabouw.

In addition to crop losses, farms have sustained serious infrastructure damage. Irrigation systems, access roads, and bridges have been compromised, while power disruptions have affected irrigation, storage, and packhouse operations.

In several instances, farms have been cut off entirely due to flooded rivers and damaged transport routes.

The Department says the knock-on effects are expected to impact the province’s agricultural economy, particularly fruit and wine export supply chains.

Delays in harvesting and transport are likely to reduce yields, affect export quality, and increase financial losses across the sector.

To support response efforts, the Department has deployed its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Damage Assessment App to improve the collection of real-time data from affected farming areas.

This digital tool is strengthening situational awareness and coordinating recovery efforts, despite challenges such as power outages, poor connectivity, and limited access to some rural communities.

The Department is currently consolidating preliminary damage reports gathered through the app, extension officers, and industry stakeholders.

As conditions stabilise and access improves, teams will conduct on-site verification visits to assess crop losses, infrastructure damage and broader impacts on livelihoods, with priority given to high-value agricultural regions.

“In several affected areas, contractors have already been appointed to begin repairing critical road infrastructure. Mopping-up operations, including the clearing of roads and ongoing humanitarian support, will continue as part of the coordinated provincial response.”

The Provincial Government will meet on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, to consider classifying the event as a provincial disaster. Following this, the Western Cape Government will approach the National Disaster Management Centre to seek a formal declaration, thereby unlocking additional national resources to support recovery efforts.

“The scale of this event presents a complex and evolving challenge for the agricultural sector. Our immediate priority is to ensure accurate damage assessment and to support farmers through a coordinated, data-driven recovery process.”

Meyer has extended his gratitude to the many farmers, organised agriculture, thousands of volunteers, and law enforcement agencies for their support during this disaster.

A 79-year-old man has died after falling into the sea at The Point in Mossel Bay. 

The National Sea Rescue Institute said its Mossel Bay team received a distress call at 16:55 on Monday. They were informed that a man appeared to have fallen from the rocks into the sea.  

Sea rescue teams, including the SAPS, ER24 and provincial government EMS services, responded to the scene.  

The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon said that when teams arrived, a Good Samaritan had already gone out to save the man, with rescue efforts underway. 

“While responding to the scene eyewitnesses reported a man, a local Good Samaritan, had entered the water and he had been able to rescue the casualty to the shoreline where bystander CPR efforts were in progress,” said Lambinon. 

Rescue teams then moved to the location where the man had been recovered from the water and continued with CPR.  

“After all efforts to resuscitate the 79-year-old local man were exhausted sadly the man was declared deceased.” 

Lambinon said the man’s body is in the care of the Forensic Pathology Service, while Mossel Bay police have opened an inquest docket. As such, the circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man. NSRI has commended the local bystander Good Samaritan that rescued the man and who had initiated CPR.”

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