With almost 150 000 people and 47 000 formal and informal households affected, the recent storms in the Western Cape have caused an infrastructure catastrophe, with the government beginning repair work in the most affected regions.
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The National Disaster Management Centre named the Western Cape a disaster area on Friday, with MEC Wouter Kriel, spokesman for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, stating that this will help secure more resources to support disaster management activities.
‘That will help us going forward especially if there are damage claims which we would like to apply for from the national fiscus and it also makes it easier for different spheres of government to work together to provide support. But in saying that, the province has been treating this as a disaster right from the start,’ Kriel said.
At the Joint Operations Centre meeting on Sunday morning, it was stated that the dams and rivers were full but not already flooding.
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In terms of evacuations, Ward 99 in Khayelitsha remains the hardest hit, with the majority of residents losing their houses due to water.
Some people who were asked to evacuate have been allowed to return, while others have not, Kriel said.
Shelter was given by the National Human Settlements Department.
Kriel said the situation in Citrusdal remained bad, with access roads either inundated or severely damaged.
According to Charlotte Powell, a representative for the City’s Disaster Risk Management department, the weather has affected 47 663 structures and 158 097 individuals since 3 July.
Powell stated that mop-up efforts are underway and would continue for the next three weeks.
A number of residents are still without power since the storm damaged electrical infrastructure and slowed restoration in some regions.
‘There has been a substantial increase in calls for assistance from backyard dwellers and assessments are being made in these areas.’
‘The City’s Informal Settlements Management Department issued 1090 flood kits in various informal settlements over the weekend, in addition to the kits handed out during the week,’ Powell said.
‘The collapse at Southfield Canal in Plumstead has affected two property walls, prompting the placement of sandbags and ongoing cleaning of the canal.’
‘With rivers and other water bodies already at full capacity, catchment management officials are closely monitoring these waterways.’
Weather-related power outages are currently affecting twenty-four areas across the city, and Powell said officials are working around the clock to restore power.
‘At least 18 huge trees were uprooted over the weekend in the areas of Bellville, Durbanville, Constantia, Tokai, Kuilsriver, Eersteriver, Noordhoek, Silvermine, Sun Valley, Lentegeur, Sunnydale, Parkwood and Redhill.’
‘Many roadways have been affected, wither by flooding or rockfalls and mudslides. Work is ongoing to address these impacts.’
Eskom said in a statement that its recovery operations are continuing, as areas remain without power due to storm-related damage.
‘Some customers across the Western Cape are still without electricity due to network infrastructure damage caused by the current severe weather conditions. Districts mainly affected are the Cape Winelands, Overberg and the West Coast where structures have collapsed, and sections of power lines were washed away by heavy flooding.’
Eskom said flooding and road closures are preventing its technicians from accessing some of these faults.
No warnings have been issued by the South African Weather Service for today.
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