Heavy rains cause disruptions and chaos
The harsh weather conditions and heavy rains have caused disruption in various communities within Bolander’s distribution areas.
According to a report by the City of Cape Town’s City’s Disaster Operations Centre, reports of flooding have been reported in local informal settlements, including in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, 7de Laan Sandvlei Macassar, and Old Faure Driftsands.
Formal housing affected include Sandvlei Macassar, houses in Strand as well as Gordon’s Bay.
“Emergency services have assisted four persons trapped in a house in Strand and evacuated them to Strand fire station,” the City said in a statement.
In the Strand, the N2 at Victoria Road has been greatly affected by flooding and local road closures says the City due to flooding, are in Dennehof Street and Sunset Boulevard in Gordon’s Bay, as well as Sir Lowry's Pass and Baden Powell Drive. “Traffic Services are in attendance,” the City reassured motorists.
Locally, reports of trees being uprooted was received for Macassar areas and furthermore local rivers have burst its banks. “At Wemmershoek Dam, the sluice gate has been opened to mitigate downstream flooding. The Lourens and Eerste rivers have burst its banks,” the City reported.
The Drakenstein Municipality has issued a stern weather warning to residents in these areas. According to their reports, numerous road closures have resulted due to the flooding in the areas. The municipality says all services are on high alert in these affected areas.
They issued a warning to residents: “More heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted to make landfall in the Cape Winelands District around lunch time. Please stay indoors, especially if you live in an area where there are road closures.”
Roads closed due to flooding are N1 Orchard/Sandhills, N1 closed and traffic is diverted to the Old Hex River Road, Franschhoek Pass is closed (in both directions) to due heavy rains as well.
Other road closures in the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch areas, are the Kromme Rhee, R44 Elsenburg, Klapmuts Simondium, Main Road Franschhoek, Devon Valley Road, Robertsvlei, Plankenburg and Distillery roads.
Residents near the Berg River are assured that emergency teams are assessing the situation and are on standby, the municipality says.
“When reporting and incident, please give us AS much accurate information as you can, including location, and kind of incident. We extend our thanks to residents for their co-operation and reporting of incidents,” the municipality requests.
Stellenbosch Municipality has set up a joint operations centre (JOC). Contact them at the control room at 021 808 8999 or 021 808 8890 and for fire and disasters call 021 808 8888. The control room has a WhatsApp line on 079 622 4722.
Drakenstein residents can call the emergency numbers 021 872 2323 for emergencies or alternatively, 080 131 3553 toll-free.
Those residing in the Strand, Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay areas can contact the City’s emergency number at the Emergency Call Centre at 107 (You must be in the 021-Cape Town area); from a cellphone you can call 112 or for all emergencies call 021 480 7700.
Residents are urged to check the social media pages of the City of Cape Town, and that of their local municipalities for hourly updates.
