CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

HUMANITARIAN groups and authorities are spanning saam to help mense affected by this week’s brutal Cape storm. 

Heavy rains and cold weather batter the Mother City throughout Wednesday and Thursday morning. 

Widespread flooding was reported from across the city, with informal settlements and poorer communities on the Cape Flats taking the full force of the woeste weer. 

In the Cape Winelands, the overflowing Breede River has resulted in the closure of the Slanghoek and Scherpenheuwel bridges and Slanghoek Road. Parts of Worcester and Drakenstein have also reported localised flooding.

While no major disaster incidents were reported by the City of Cape Town or the Western Cape government, the story of a Parkwood boy who was rescued from a sloot made headlines.

Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, confirmed that weather warnings remain in place.

He added that disaster teams are actively “engaged in humanitarian relief efforts, distribution of sandbags, clearing of blocked drainage systems, and ongoing impact and damage assessments.”

The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan says their relief partners are on the ground too, feeding and clothing affected residents.

Lategan confirmed: “Already we have organisations including the Mustadafin Foundation and Islamic Relief providing assistance in Vygieskraal and Belgravia, where collectively, more than 600 people were impacted.

“Any donations of non-perishable goods can be dropped off at the seven fire stations that have been designated as drop-off points: Constantia, Goodwood, Hout Bay, Lakeside, Roeland Street, Strand and Wynberg.”

While weather conditions are expected to improve slightly, U-turn Homeless Ministries has urgently activated additional emergency shelter services to meet the growing number of homeless individuals seeking refuge from the cold, rain, and wind.

Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt, CEO of U-turn, stressed the importance of immediate action and community support.

Knighton Fitt said: “When the weather turns severe, the need on the streets grows rapidly. We want to respond and with the public’s help, we can.”

Donations can be dropped off at the U-turn Head Office at 155 Second Avenue, Kenilworth, between 8.30am and 9pm on Friday or from 8am to 12pm on Saturday.