City boosts flood mitigation and winter readiness as heavy rains hit Cape Town
20 April 2026
The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate, alongside Disaster Risk Management and various service departments, is working around the clock to address the impact of the heavy rainfall that swept across the metro this past weekend. Approximately 480 flooding related complaints were received since Friday until early this morning. While teams are currently on the ground, it is still too early to provide final, verified figures on the total number of incidents or the full extent of the damage. These details will be shared with the public as soon as all assessments are completed and confirmed.
‘Widespread areas across the city experienced localised flooding due to sustained downpours. Reported impacts were concentrated in both formal and informal residential areas, including Parkwood, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Delft, Ndabeni, Mitchells Plain, Southfield, Nyanga, Philippi, Elsies River, Kraaifontein and parts of Dunoon, among others. I was on the ground today in Parkwood and Dunoon, where teams are busy with mopping up efforts. Water has, for the most part, drained out as it should, with the exception of areas where structures have been built illegally over bulk stormwater and sewerage infrastructure. When this happens, our maintenance teams physically can’t access the systems to clear them. Yesterday, we saw mattresses and wheelie bins pulled from our stormwater system, among other wildly inappropriate objects and materials. Obviously, this can create massive blockages. This notwithstanding, our teams are deployed to areas where flooding is reported, and this is happening throughout all eight districts across the metro.
Heavy rainfall causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads, which then act as water conduits. Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy. The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall has caused quite a number of flooding incidents across Cape Town,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
‘It is important for residents to note that our stormwater infrastructure is designed to drain rainwater away over a period of time; it is not designed to make water disappear instantly during a heavy downpour. Localised flooding is expected while rain is falling. It is only considered a fault or a system failure if the water does not drain away after the rain has subsided. Residents in low-lying areas or those situated near water bodies are naturally more susceptible to localised flooding during intense weather events. And illegal buildings are also at risk, especially if they are erected in detention ponds,’ added Councillor Quintas.
The City of Cape Town has activated a multi-departmental emergency response and has assigned additional budget for proactive stormwater management. This funding is specifically intended to mitigate the impact of heavy weather, though it cannot entirely prevent flooding during extreme events.
On the go right now:
- Urban Mobility Teams: Clearing blocked stormwater drains and managing flooded roads.
- Road Infrastructure Management (RIM): Providing sand and milling for flood mitigation.
- Informal Settlements Management: Assisting residents with emergency materials like plastic sheeting.
- Disaster Operations Centre: Prioritising the most vulnerable and high-risk areas.
The City is also implementing the following proactive measures for the 2026 winter season:
- Expanded Maintenance: Increased cleaning of stormwater networks to clear discarded rubbish.
- Targeted Upgrades: Focus on infrastructure in known flood-prone zones.
- Early Warnings: Close monitoring in partnership with the South African Weather Service.
The City remains committed to protecting residents through both engineering and community partnerships. We ask residents to assist by disposing of waste responsibly to keep our drains clear.
For Blocked Stormwater and Post-Rain Flooding: (Report only if water remains on road surfaces after the rain has stopped)
- Call Centre: 0860 103 089
To Report Illegal Dumping:
For Water and Sewer-related queries:
For Electricity-related queries:
- WhatsApp: 060 018 1505
- SMS: 31220
Life-Threatening Emergencies:
- Please call the Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) on 021 480 7700.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
