The stench from flooded toilets, residents in rubber boots scooping water out of their homes, muddied roads: this is what life will be like for the next few weeks for people living in an informal settlement in Gugulethu.
Residents of Europe have suffered the full brunt of the heavy deluge which began last week.
Community leader Nombulelo Mgogo said this is what they go through every time it rains. “After the flooding, we get blankets and bread and then it ends there. But for us, that is when the real work begins.”
Resident Yandisa Kwale, 23, has a large pool of water in front of his shack and every time he opens the door his one-roomed shack floods.
His shoes are lying in the water inside the shack. He estimates it will take a week for the water to subside, assuming it does not rain again.
Another resident, Sandile Vice, 45, said he had missed work on Monday in order to clean his home after the floods. His carpet and belongings are hanging up to dry outside his shack as he cleans the muddied floor.
“Every time it rains we have to do the same thing. On Friday this whole place was full of water, it is only getting better now but it will take time for the walls to dry because the cardboard sucks up some of the water,” Vice said.
Neighbours said some residents moved to a different area during the rainy season to escape the flooding.
SA Weather Service forecaster Rian Smit said there would be some showers on Tuesday and that more rain was expected on Wednesday.
Cape Argus