Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
23 June 2023 | 16:05 CAT

Image: TimesLIVE

The Cape of Storms had lived up to its name after heavy rains brought on by a series of cold fronts since last week have caused major damage to the Western Cape’s roads and infrastructure. The flooding disrupts the electricity supply and no train services as well.

This has led to several road closures, including the N1 through the Huguenot Tunnel towards Cape Town.

Thousands of people had to be evacuated with organisations such as the Gift of the Givers providing aid where they could do so.

Areas particularly hard hit were the Cape Winelands and West Coast.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Councillor Peter Helfrich of Ward 109 in the City of Cape Town said the situation is dire, with many people from informal settlements losing their belongings and livelihood and being displaced.

According to Helfrich, many informal settlements still need to go through the necessary process to obtain approval to build structures where they live. Many informal settlements are in low-line wetlands or flood plains, causing a much more severe effect on settlements.

Meanwhile, more than R10 million in humanitarian relief has been spent in the flood-ravaged Western Cape as mop-up operations continue, according to the Gift of the Givers Foundation.

Gift of the Givers estimated that more than 10 000 people were affected by the flooding, and at least 2 000 were displaced.

Aid deliveries were made to communities in Strand, Faure, Mbekweni, Grabouw, Caledon, KTC, Nyanga, Bonteheuwel, Khayelitsha, Langa, Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Atlantis and Villiersdorp.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with host Aanisa Essack.