Children from Overcome Heights informal settlement, near Seawinds, dodged large puddles of water between their homes on Thursday. Many houses remain flooded in the area.
More than 300 households in Overcome Heights informal settlement, near Seawinds, are battling to stay warm and dry as many of their belongings have been drenched by flooding.
This comes as a cold front and torrential rain continue to batter many parts of the Western Cape.
Community worker Karen Mentoor told GroundUp on Friday that many residents need assistance, such as food, blankets and clothes. She said they are particularly worried about the health of young children and the elderly as the area remains waterlogged.
She said while many families had come to their offices to ask for help, they were reluctant to leave their homes to live in shelters “because they’re scared their last things will be stolen”.
Mentoor said she is worried how more rainfall over the next few months would impact their community.
Ward councillor Mandy Marr said she was working with two organisations to deliver warm food and blankets to families in need. She also said the City of Cape Town had provided sandbags and milling material in preparation for the winter months, but the settlement is in a low-lying area.
“It is really just an awful situation … I know the suffering of the people,” she said. Marr said that a new housing project earmarked for the area is currently on the mayoral priority list and is expected to bring much relief to the residents. She said a meeting about the project was planned for Saturday.
“We do have a long-term plan. I just urge residents to have patience while we get this housing project [underway]. Hope is coming,” she said.
On Thursday, Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, said the weather system had shifted to the south coast, with strong winds forecast along the Overberg and Garden Route coastlines.
The City of Cape Town reported localised flooding in both formal and informal areas, which resulted in disruptions to roads and stormwater infrastructure.
Overcome Heights residents say they battle with flooding each year due to poor waste management and overcrowding.
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Discrimination: Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
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