The City’s and Provincial Disaster Risk Management Teams are continuing to monitor the impacts of the prevailing inclement weather.

This as gale force winds and heavy rain is lashing the province, with weather warnings in place for the rest of this week.

There were numerous road closures due to flooding and downed trees on Sunday, amid a Level 8 weather warning, while there was also a mudslide along an embankment on the N1, to name a few.

Reports of flooding in informal settlements have been received from numerous areas in Cape Town, with the City’s Informal Settlements Management branch is providing assistance to affected residents.

In Khayelitsha Ward 99, humanitarian relief is being provided to 4000 residents, who were left without shelter, after gale force winds ripped off the roofs of their home late last week Thursday.

Gift of the Givers teams have been on site providing relief, while the City, Provincial Government and National Government have engaged regarding emergency shelter for the affected people.

The organisations founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman says 15 000 people have been affected thus far, as the rain left people soaked in Nomzamo, Lwandle, Mangaung, Kanana, Barcelona and New Rest Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Mbokweni, Kosovo Phillipi, Island, Phola Park, Klipfontein, Marikana, Kusisikhona, Winnie Madikizela, Siyangenya, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and Tafelsig.

The City’s Disaster Coordinating team will monitor the metropole from the DRM Strategic Room in Goodwood, and coordinate responses to the following:

• conduct assessments to determine the nature and extent of any humanitarian relief required
• Assess/repair/replace any damaged City infrastructure
• Introduce engineering or other solutions where possible, and depending on the situation, to provide relief from weather-related impacts

The public is requested to report any weather-related emergency where life or property is at risk to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.

Any other service requests can be logged via the City’s various voice, text and online channels.

Meanwhile, on the Provincial front, the Disaster Management Centre will meet daily as the weather service has also extended warnings for disruptive snow on Monday.

Disruptive snow is expected over the Hantam, Karoo Hoogland (N. Cape), Cederberg municipalities including the Cape Winelands district, which could lead to the closure of mountain passes.

Flooding was also reported on the West Coast and the Cape Winelands District, while Eskom faults in Tulbagh, Wolseley, Rawsonville, and Huguenot Tunnel and surrounding farms are being attended to.

The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to monitor dam levels.

The South African Weather Services highlighted the additional fire danger for the Garden Route district which will be exacerbated by the strong winds in the coming days.

According to SAWS several warnings for severe weather remains on track for the coming week.

These warnings have been issued for Monday:

• Orange level 6 warning for damaging coastal winds and waves leading to damage of coastal infrastructure along longer stretches of coastline is expected between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay today (08/07/2024)
• Yellow level 4 warning for disruptive snow leading to disruption and closure of mountain passes is expected over the Hantam, Karoo Hoogland (N. Cape), Cederberg municipalities including the Cape Winelands district (W. Cape) today (08/07/2024)
• Orange level 6 warning for storm surge leading to localised low-lying areas flooded and disruptions to beach front activities is expected along longer stretches of coastlines between Cape Columbine and Plettenberg Bay today (08/07/2024)
• Yellow level 3 warning for storm surge leading to localised low-lying areas flooded is expected between Cape Columbine and Alexander Bay today (08/07/2024)

Capetonians who wish to make a donation to general relief efforts, but also just to ease the load on our NGO partners, is encouraged to do so.

Donations can be non-perishable foodstuff, personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, face cloths, sanitary towels), nappies and baby formula, as well as blankets and construction materials like wood and corrugated sheeting.

The public can donate directly to their humanitarian relief NGO of choice.

Alternatively, the City has made available the following Fire Stations as drop off points: Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Goodwood, Ottery, Roeland Street and Lakeside.

Or, contact the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre Donations Line on 021 597 5042 between 08:00 and 18:00, or direct an email to disaster.donations@capetown.gov.za

Road users are also reminded to drive slowly to avoid losing control in wet and icy conditions.