City works nonstop to help flood-affected, where possible
10 July 2021
The City of Cape Town teams have conducted approximately 300 onsite assessments to date in total following the severe storms which caused localised flooding especially affecting low-lying informal settlements. Because of the low-lying terrain, and the multiple severe storms, the water takes some time to dissipate. City teams have also provided approximately 2 500 flood assistance packets, materials and other support where it has been possible to do so. The City has also been engaging with various support organisations to help with soft relief. The biggest challenge can be seen with most of the newly unlawfully occupied areas where some large settlements have formed on extremely waterlogged land, such as in dams and ponds and wetlands where flood materials are of no use due to the depth of the flooding. Many of the older, existing areas that were deemed high risk prior to the start of the winter rainfall, where mitigation measures could be implemented, have been spared from the worst of the flooding, however, low-lying areas in general have been affected. The City thanks all teams who have worked during the current Covid-19 resurgence to help residents.
‘Our informal settlements teams have handed out approximately 2 500 flooding support packets already, over and above the individual plastic sheeting and sandbags, where it has been possible to do this. In about 70% of all new unlawfully occupied areas, feasible flood mitigation is not possible due to the low-lying terrain, including floodplains, wetlands and waterlogged areas. In addition, some of the land that has been occupied is situated in dams, such as in ‘Ethembeni’ in Khayelitsha or is privately owned such as Siqalo in Philippi. Many of the flooding hotspots are in the recently occupied areas such as in Mfuleni, Kraaifontein, Dunoon and Khayelitsha. The spike in unlawful occupations since the start of the March 2020 Covid-19 lockdown is causing severe challenges on the ground, as we can see from the high level of flooding incidents and where they have occurred. Those who have for political or economic reasons (such as the ‘shack-farming’ syndicates) enabled and actively driven the large, organised unlawful occupations, are now nowhere to be found to take responsibility for their actions.
‘The City has consistently advised residents of the health and safety risks associated with the unlawful occupation of unsuitable low-lying, flood prone and waterlogged land. There are simply no feasible engineering solutions for some of the areas, for instance those situated in ponds or dams or on privately owned land. The City will continue to assist where it is possible to do so,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.
‘Prior to the winter rains, the City implemented flood-mitigation measures such as digging trenches, delivering milling material to raise the ground level and providing plastic sheeting and sandbags where possible. These interventions continue. The City continues to work on obtaining soft relief from relief organisations and the South African Social Security Agency.
‘Our Disaster Risk Management teams have concluded approximately 300 assessments of localised flooding in informal settlements. They have worked non-stop to assist where they can, in collaboration with our Informal Settlement Management and Roads and Stormwater teams. City officials continue to help with the digging of trenches and by constructing canals to lead flood water away from affected areas where possible and monitoring high risk priority areas on a daily basis to determine flooding risks and occurrences, while giving advice to residents on how to reduce risks ahead of further rainfall expected throughout the remainder of the winter season,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The risk of fires during winter especially is also huge. Never leave an open flame unattended.
Emergencies can be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialing 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
