Cape Town - Disaster risk management officials are keeping a close eye on areas prone to flooding as a cold front passes over the Western Cape.
After heavy rainfall on Sunday, Cape Town motorists had to navigate roads which were flooded in places. However, Disaster Risk Management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said there were no reports of incidents of communities suffering severe flooding.
“We have not been alerted to any incidents concerning flooding, specifically in the informal settlements.
“The only incident reported by the Disaster Operations Centre regarded a tree that has been uprooted in Belmont Road, at the corner of St George Grey in Oranjezicht near the St Cyprian’s School. A car parked in the roadway and power lights were damaged, resulting in power cuts around that area,” she said.
The rainfall did have a positive effect on dam levels. The Theewaterskloof dam near Franschhoek rose substantially, according to James Styan, spokesman for Minister of Local Government Anton Bredell.
The cold, rainy weather was expected to persist this week, with the SA Weather Service warning of low temperatures across the province.
“There will be a secondary cold front from today across some regions, and chances of heavy showers in some parts of the Western Cape. Areas such as Worcester, Hermanus and the Peninsula stand a 60 percent chance of showers (on Monday),” Madinetja Thema of the SA Weather Service said.
Thema also said that in the north eastern parts of the province, light rain and snowfalls were expected over high lying areas.
Low temperatures were also reported to reach some parts in the Eastern Cape. Thema said a cold front would hit the region this week followed by 30 percent chance of rain.
“People can expect some very low temperatures this week, with some light rains. There has been some light snowfall on some mountains, and that can be expected again this week.”
Twelve people were injured when a car collided with a minibus on Jakes Gerwel Drive on Sunday. ER24 paramedics ands other services attended to the incident. Two men believed to be in their late 20s were trapped in one of the cars.
Metro Rescue freed them from the vehicle and paramedics found they were in a critical condition, ER24 said. Two teenagers were also trapped in the minibus. They were freed and found to be in a serious condition.
“These patients, as well as all others who sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate, were treated and transported to various local hospitals,” ER24 spokeswoman Chitra Bodasing said.
Cape Argus