City of Cape Town appeals to residents in informal settlements to move structures out of floodplain

The City of Cape Town has appealed to residents in informal settlements to remove their structures out of the floodplain as heavy storms continue to lash the Western Cape.

The City says engineering teams will not be able to assist residents on the floodplain as it is the natural course of flooding.

A number of informal settlements, in Philippi, Khayelitsha and Du Noon have been affected.

Disaster management officials say flood kits and sandbags are being provided.

Spokesperson Charlotte Powell says several roads across the city have also been flooded and rockfalls were reported in Camps Bay.

“Emergency sheltering has been activated at churches in the area. Sassa has been informed to assist with humanitarian relief. Roofs were blown off in Uitsig, while numerous trees were uprooted across the city notably in Wynberg, Bantry Bay and Constantia. These are being attended to by the Recreation and Parks Department.”

In Sandvlei at Macassar, near Somerset West, residents are knee-deep in water following the torrential rain of the past few days.

At least 10 homes have been flooded after the Eerste River burst its banks on Saturday morning.

An affected resident, Wanita Johnson, says she had to stay with relatives after rising floodwaters seeped into her home.