‘The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This 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,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution, steer clear of driving through flooded areas and avoid low-water crossings. Roads may be closed on short notice, if needed, in the interest of safety and security.

‘Downpours are expected to continue throughout the day and assessments on the ground are ongoing, as reports come in. Most residents would have noticed that flooding of roads usually subsides within less than an hour after the rain has stopped and our stormwater infrastructure has had the opportunity to deal with the large volumes of water that entered the system,’ said Councillor Quintas.

The City’s Transport Information Centre (TIC) is currently experiencing high call volumes; residents are reporting flooded roads and mudslides due to the inclement weather conditions.

Should water remain on roads after the rain has subsided and there are no signs of it draining, residents and road users are urged to report these incidents on 0800656463; email transport.info@capetown.gov.za or SMS 31373 (no more than 160 characters).

High resolution photographs are available here.