Subcouncil 4

Resolution detail

The motion submitted by Cllr Beverley van Reenen and seconded by Cllr Marlene Abrahams as set out below was considered. Chairperson, in terms of Rule 11 of the Rules of Order regulating the Conduct of Sub-council’s, I wish to submit the following urgent motion for consideration by Sub-council 4. MOTIVATION Chairperson, my motion deals with the challenges associated with the recent rains of 24 May 2018 and 1st June 2018 with accompanying flooding. Chairperson, we are all very much aware that flooding in the Cape Town municipal area is complex due to the different types of flooding that we experience every second to third year, and the possible linkage between them, I find it very difficult to comprehend that the City has as yet not dealt with the problem effectively or have come up with a strategy to mitigate our flooding problems or flood prone areas which are known to us. Whilst many people blamed the City’s drainage system which they described as poorly designed; and others who blamed the garbage and foreign objects that clogged sewer lines, the realities were and are that the floods were real and that we were caught napping or that we were not prepared for such a devastating floods. It is commonly understood that flooding is a reality and with the high water table in the Western Cape, flooding normally occurs when we are not really prepared or did not expect the severity of the floods nor that we do not have a strategy in place to combat the impact of flood disasters. Whilst many Capetonians celebrated the gushing torrential rain that has battered the City during this period, and, thus bringing an abrupt end to day Zero, others were bracing the cold and devastation of the rains coupled with strong winds who experienced a nightmare by simply keeping the water out of their homes, whilst many others were stuck on the road in their vehicles as they braced the floods. It has been reported that quite a number of roads across the City was affected by these heavy down pours causing flooding all over the City. Although it was reported that flooding occurred across the City from informal settlements in Khayelitsha and Philippi to residential areas in Somerset West, it was the floods within Sub-council 4 which attracted the imagination and attention of many living in low lying areas of Parow, but more specific the poor areas of Ravensmead, Uitsig, Elsies River as well as the areas of Goodwood. Chairperson I have prepared a presentation on the flooding which includes Ravensmead, Uitsig as well as the Elsies Kraal which runs across boundaries as these areas have for many years have been prone to flooding due to past policies of separate developments and the invent of the Industrial revolution and explosion on the outer periphery of these two areas. Ravensmead, previously known as Tiervlei was, as the name reflects, a “vlei” which formed part of the former Parow Municipal Area and was a low lying Vlei area surrounded by the rivers crossing Mark Street and the river next to Franci Van Zijl Drive which were both later piped in order to channel the flow of water away. With the expansion of the industrial areas and the construction of Coca Cola Beverage Company and other factories such as Parmalat, the Parow Council realised during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s that the challenge with flooding as a result of access water and run-off water from the storm water catchment pits located in the industrial area, was immense which required drastic action especially the low lying areas of Marion Crescent and Forbes Crescent which resulted therein that the Former Parow council compensated some of the residents by buying them out in order to construct a detention pond next to De La Rey Road. (although this falls within another Subcouncil, its unfortunately affects the detention pond in our Subcouncil) After the second flood within the area during the early 1990’s, more houses were bought up in order to build a much bigger detention pond adjacent to De La Rey Road with a second pond being constructed in Christian Street to compliment the pond Next to De La Rey Road by pumping access water in cases of floods to the Christian Street detention pond. So, Chairperson, by implication the City of Cape Town were well aware that further flooding might occur in the event of heavy rains in Ravensmead, which was indeed the case with the rains during May 2018 and early June 2018, with future floods not being excluded should we fail to find solutions to the problem. With regards to the Floods in Uitsig, the areas of Hanekam Street and Geranium street, Gousblom Street, Connaught Avenue, Petunia street, Uitsig Avenue, Magnolia Avenue, Jakaranda Avenue, in Uitsig are low lying areas which will always flood due to the manner how these houses were constructed as some of the houses within this area, are built below the road surface which requires serious attention. The other affected areas that needs mentioning is Short Street, Daphne Street, York Street, Ramphal Singh Street etc. in Cravenby Estate and also Lupine Street in Uitsig which might be as a result of a lack of maintenance and or cleaning or the lack of adequate drainage systems. It might also be that the flooding could have been caused due to the storm water system and canals and the lack of the necessary capacity to drain away the amount of rainwater or due to a high water table that resulted in water rising above ground level, which is often the case especially in what is considered the old wetland or vlei areas or it could have been contributed to poor drainage soils, resulting in the accumulation of water that could take some time to evaporate. Chairperson, there are those community members that argue that our drainage system was poorly designed, whilst others blamed the floods on the garbage that clogged our sewer lines. However, though, the important lesson that we have all learnt, is no matter how well-maintained our storm water system is, but the reality is, when the detention pond swells and has reached its capacity, the likelihood of floods will always be a reality if we are not properly prepared for floods as to the one we have experienced, therefore it is imperative that the relevant TDA department undertake a Capacity study at both Christiaan and De La Rey Storm water ponds in Ravensmead. Notwithstanding the aforementioned chairperson, I would like to thank the various departments for reaching out to the community during their time of need, but also for meeting with us as councillors and the affected community. Chairperson the recent flooding within the area has cast a bright spotlight on the serious problem of intensified flooding events. We were fortunate that no injuries or fatalities were reported, notwithstanding the damages caused to homes and to a lesser extent damages to the municipal infrastructure that has occurred. Given the reality of climate change, these flooding disasters will escalate in future unless we take some proactive measures to mitigate the problem. The Chairperson made reference to the delegation as quoted in the motion; Delegation 51(6). It must be noted that the correct delegation for motions as per the System of Delegations for Subcouncils is Part 24: 1(3) The motion was unanimously supported.