Michael Nkalane
ABOUT 3 500 people were affected as severe weather conditions hit the city and also caused damage to a church and a house in Nyanga.
Hangberg in Hout Bay and parts of Lavender Hill, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Langa experienced flooding. The Methodist Church in Nyanga had part of its roof blown off, and an adjacent house was severely damaged. Strong winds also toppled part of the Oscar Mpetha High School’s boundary wall.
City Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said residents should brace themselves for more rain.
“Heavy rain is predicted between June and July,” she said.
Hout Bay Civic Association (HBCA) secretary Roscoe Jacobs said more than 100 Hangberg residents were affected by floods.
He said Salamander Road residents were the hardest hit as the pavement had collapsed and water streamed into their homes.
“It is easy for water to get in because there is no protection,” he said on Thursday.
Jacobs said the problem would remain until the City fixed the stormwater drain in the area.
“The HBCA will continue to put pressure on the City to assist affected residents and to identify the problem and address it.”
Oscar Mpetha High School’s caretaker Sipho Banzi said a strong and sudden wind was preceded by heavy rain.
“It just stopped, and was then followed by this strong wind. The wind did not last more than 20 minutes. The trees were immediately broken, falling on top of cars belonging to teachers. When we looked on the other side we found part of the wall had fallen apart,” he said.
Sakhe Vaphi, who resides at the Methodist church premises in Nyanga, said he was inside when a strong wind lifted the roof. “It happened very quick.”
Nyanga resident Mbali Makhandi said her house’s gate and roof were blown off.
“While the gate was shaken from the wall, the roof was falling. Even my sister’s baby woke up,” she said.
And Langa resident Siyabulela Makhalila said flooding left his house damp on Thursday.
“The aftermath is still felt. Not to mention the fact that it stinks when the sun comes out. I don’t know what I will do if my three-month-old baby gets sick here,” he said.
Another resident, Sipho Kuse, said floods did not affect him anymore as he had raised his shack. “I know that I stay in a low area so I had to be a step ahead,” he said.
Powell said the the City’s Human Settlements, and Stormwater and Disaster Relief departments were assessing the damage.
“We cannot tell how much damage there is now, but we are working on it.
“Once we have established that, we will determine how much humanitarian relief is needed,” she said.
Powell said they had contacted Oscar Mpetha High School’s principal.
“Damage to the school and other houses in Nyanga was caused by a rare gust of wind,” she said.
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