Buffalo City ratepayers march to City Hall, rejecting electricity fee
A monthly maintenance network surcharge of between R376 and more than R700 came into effect on 1 July
Cape Town
Western Cape disaster management agencies and other stakeholders remain on high alert amid severe weather
The Western Cape’s Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) continues to coordinate the multi-disciplinary response to the series of cold fronts that are lashing large parts of the province. At the daily Joint Operations Centre (JOC) briefing today, 11 July 2024, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) provided an update on the weather system: An Orange …
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Calls for Decentralisation of Emergency Housing Fund
The Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, must review the current funding mechanisms and collaborate with provincial and local authorities to reinstate a more efficient system for the distribution of emergency housing funding. The decentralisation of emergency funding is not merely a bureaucratic step; it is a necessary reform that will enable us to respond …
Cape Winelands, Overberg schools to remain closed on Friday
Cape Winelands, Overberg schools to remain closed on Friday
The Western Cape Education Department has announced its decision to extend the closure of schools in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts to Friday, following a meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Management (PDRM).
However, all schools in the other education districts are to re-open tomorrow.
This means that schools in the Cape Town, the West Coast, and the Eden and Central Karoo Education Districts will be open tomorrow unless approval has been granted by the Head of Department.
“This decision is based on the interests of learner and teacher safety in the Overberg and Cape Winelands Education Districts, particularly with regard to travelling to and from schools,” said Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier.
The rainfall has caused widespread damage to roads and flooding, affecting school transport routes and resulting in the closure of many schools.
According to the provincial department, several schools have also reported flood damage to their premises.
"We have asked that schools in the Overberg and Cape Winelands Education Districts to inform their parents and caregivers of the continued closure tomorrow.”
These schools will reopen on Monday, 15 July 2024, unless communicated otherwise.
According to the department, 217 schools across the province have now reported some form of damage to school infrastructure or disruption.
“Last night’s heavy rains and strong winds unfortunately contributed towards this figure. Eighty-six cases are regarded as serious and require our attention. Our infrastructure teams are addressing these cases as fast as possible. I am grateful for their continued commitment in these adverse conditions,” Maynier said.
“I am also very appreciative of the support received from school principals and their management teams in implementing the decision to close schools in some of our districts.”
He took the time to thank all parents and caregivers for their support.
“We do not decide to close schools lightly and have the best interests of our learners and teachers at heart when making these decisions,” Maynier added.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a level 8 warning for disruptive rain.
The Western Cape Government (WCG) said the warning remains in place for heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides, particularly in the Cape Town metro, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch regions.
Parents can use the ‘Find my School’ search finder to confirm if their school falls under these two districts where the schools will be closed by visiting https://wcedemis.westerncape.gov.za/wced/findaschool.html. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 07/11/2024 - 14:58
434 views
Durbanville Hills Official Wine Partner To Masterchef South Africa
Durbanville Hills Wine announces its partnership with MasterChef South Africa as the exclusive wine partner for the season to be aired on S3 (previously known as SABC 3) from Saturday, 13 July at 19:30. The cellar, known for its award-winning cool climate wines, is thrilled to partner with the successful culinary show which sees aspiring …
Cape Town schools closed, 15 000 people affected by severe weather
Cape Town schools closed, 15 000 people affected by severe weather
The Western Cape Government (WCG) continues to provide shelter, food, and blankets to the homeless as the province faces heavy downpours, resulting in the closure of many schools.
The province announced that schools in the Cape Town metro districts, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts as well as parts of the West Coast district have closed today.
“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close schools in certain districts in the Western Cape [on Thursday],” Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, said on Wednesday.
According to the MEC, all other schools in the remaining districts will be open unless approval has been granted for closure.
“Our default position is always to keep schools open but are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place and the damage already caused in certain areas.
“So far, 20 schools have been granted permission for closure across the province, the majority of which are in the Cape Winelands district,” the MEC explained.
Over the past few days, 137 schools have reported some form of damage to infrastructure, either because of flooding or heavy winds. Most of the cases are minor, while 49 cases require urgent attention.
Level 8 warning
Meanwhile, a Level 8 warning has been issued by the SAWS for disruptive rain.
This warning remains in place for heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides, particularly in the Cape Town metro, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch regions.
The province is also expecting strong winds to persist over the interior regions and along the coastal areas of Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas over the next few days.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the PDMC and other stakeholders are monitoring the series of cold fronts very closely.
“Virtually all WCG departments are working together to mitigate the possible impact of this weather system.
“All stakeholders will remain vigilant, and I urge members of the public to also do so. Disaster management teams are working tirelessly to keep members of the public out of harm’s way. For this, we are very thankful.”
The WCG said they have been working closely with all affected municipalities, national departments, as well as non-government organisations (NGOs), who have been working tirelessly to safeguard lives and assist residents in need during the current floods.
Chief Director of Disaster Management, Colin Deiner, explained that over the next several days the centre will continue to monitor the situation closely.
He stressed that a critical aspect of the overall response is to ensure all disaster officials and organisations are adequately resourced to keep up the good work they have been doing.
Humanitarian support
Meanwhile, about 4 000 structures have sustained damage across Cape Town, impacting 15 000 people.
“With the help of NGOs, 11 000 hot meals are being provided each day across Cape Town metro to people affected by the weather.”
The Western Cape Department of Social Development is coordinating humanitarian relief efforts for affected communities with partner NGOs like Gift of the Givers Foundation, The Warehouse Foundation, Ashraful Aid, Al-Imdaad Foundation, Islamic Relief SA, and the Community Chest of the Western Cape.
In addition, many rivers are reaching full saturation levels and run-off could increase exponentially. This is being closely monitored by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Dams
Many of the province’s dams are also rising rapidly, with Clanwilliam Dam currently sitting at 90.89%, Berg River Dam increased to 104.06%, the Theewaterskloof Dam at 76%, while Misverstand Dam has risen to 161%.
“A controlled release of water from Wemmershoek Dam into the Berg River was carried out as a precautionary measure. This controlled release is necessary to reduce the risk of flooding downstream.”
Electricity
According to the provincial government, electricity faults are being reduced. However, 11 000 people are still without Eskom power in numerous areas, including Citrusdal, De Doorns and Touwsrivier.
In Delft, around 1 500 Eskom customers are without electricity.
“The power utility is working hard to restore power.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:25
335 views
Transnet monitoring port operations as adverse weather continues
Transnet monitoring port operations as adverse weather continues
Transnet says it is continuously monitoring operations at the ports of Cape Town, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth and Ngqura amid adverse weather conditions in parts of the country.
In a statement, Transnet explained that strong winds have led to high wave swells that have led to shipping movements being suspended at some ports for safety reasons.
However, no major incidents have been reported thus far.
“The strong winds, which have created high swell conditions, must subside before vessel movements can resume.
“Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) marine operations are currently on standby to assist vessels where required. Industry stakeholders are being kept updated on the situation,” the State-owned company said.
Transnet noted the following:
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The Cape Town Container Terminal, which is experiencing high swells until Saturday, has three vessels on berth that are unable to work due to the terminal’s wind-bound status. Another four vessels are planned to arrive by Thursday.
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In Gqeberha, the Ngqura Container Terminal had its last vessel finish in the early hours of Sunday. The port authority resolved on not berthing any more vessels until Wednesday and port terminal gates have been closed since. The Port Elizabeth Container Terminal is also wind-bound, with one vessel on berth.
“The floods experienced in the Eastern Cape in June, along with current weather disruptions, have resulted in vessel congestion at the Port Elizabeth Bulk Terminal where manganese is handled. This has slowed down the progress. Despite this, vessel nominations continue.
“Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is confident of managing the resulting vessel backlog with the recent acquisition of new cargo handling equipment across some of its terminals, as well as the support of contracted original equipment manufacturers supplying spares in the case of breakdowns.
“TNPA is taking appropriate measures to ensure safety of life, protection of the environment and prevention of damage to property,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 07/10/2024 - 09:52
437 views
Veldskoen’s Chic Take on the Humble Gumboot is Set to Surprise South African Audiences this Winter.
The new ladies’ Gumboot perfectly combines fashion with functionality, making it a staple for the all-year wardrobe. Cape Town, ~ Veldskoen Shoes ventured into new territory when they launched their latest product; The Veldskoen Gumboot on Friday. The ladies gumboot is designed to meet the demands of both urban and rural lifestyles. This is a …
Thousands left homeless as Western Cape braces for second cold front
Thousands left homeless as Western Cape braces for second cold front
As an intense cold front moves away from most parts of the country, the Western Cape is still at risk as it prepares for a second cold front, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
“The Western Cape faces another cold front as the rest of the country gets a bit of a break from the hectic weather we've faced over the past few days. Strong interior winds are still forecast,” the SAWS said.
The Northern Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape interior and Western Cape have been experiencing wet, cold, and windy conditions with light snow.
The series of cold fronts hitting the country also brought widespread and disruptive snowfall over the southern and western high ground.
This was accompanied by damaging winds over the interior and the coastline as well as high seas along coastal areas.
The Western Cape saw severe disruptions and damage, including loss of shelter in informal settlements, fallen trees, electricity outages and road closures due to snow or flooding.
The weather services has since upgraded the Western Cape’s weather warning from level 6 to 8.
According to reports, the inclement weather in the Western Cape affected 7 000 structures in informal settlements across Cape Town after 70 neighbourhoods were flooded.
The Liesbeek, Lotus and Eerste rivers in Cape Town have all begun to burst their banks.
“We’re still expecting a lot of strong wind and rain this week. Please stay safe. City teams are addressing each localised flooding situation,” said Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said the wet and cold conditions prevented five schools from re-opening yesterday as public schools began their third term across the country.
According to the WCED, the schools were closed due to either flooding, inaccessibility to access routes or damage to the school building.
In addition, 82 schools have reported damages, of which most cases were minor, with 31 cases regarded as more serious.
“This includes schools where roof sheeting was blown off,” the provincial department said, adding that repair work has already begun on some projects.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde expressed his gratitude to the province’s disaster management teams and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly throughout this difficult period.
“Your steadfast dedication to serving the residents of this province is deeply appreciated,” said Winde.
KwaZulu-Natal
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal has been dealing with extremely high fire danger conditions.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs confirmed veld fires in uMlalazi Local Municipality in Eshowe where a 67-year-old was burnt to death when his house caught fire.
King Cetshwayo District is said to be one of the most affected areas, with uMfolozi, uMlalazi, Mthonjaneni and Nkandla being the hardest-hit municipalities.
According to the provincial department, 144 people in the district were affected, leaving 53 people homeless after 48 homes were partially damaged and 27 destroyed.
“The department is working closely with the municipality to ensure adequate support and relief for the affected families, with social partners setting up soup kitchens.”
Eastern Cape
Strong winds continue to wreak havoc in the Eastern Cape, damaging houses and disrupting the flow of traffic on the roads as vehicles have been toppled over, on the N2 near Dutywa.
“Road users, motorists in particular, are urged to be extra cautious or avoid being on the road completely if their travelling is not essential,” the Eastern Cape Transport Department said.
On Tuesday afternoon, the provincial department finally reopened the Barkly Pass on the R58 Road between Barkly East and Elliot to traffic, after it was closed for 30 hours, due to heavy snowfall, on the morning of Monday.
“Graders had to be used to clear off the thick blanket of snow that stubbornly covered the road surface.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 07/10/2024 - 09:58
506 views
Western Cape storms: “worse is still to come”
Schools to close across the province as another storm hits, with about 15,000 people already severely affected by floods and damaging winds
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Wet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape
Wet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape
Cold and wet weather is expected to continue in the Western Cape this week with a series of cold fronts still to make landfall over the coming days.
“A series of cold fronts are still on track to make landfall, resulting in a week of wet and cold conditions. [Monday] will see the coldest daytime temperatures, and the next cold front with rain is expected to arrive on Tuesday.
“Between 10 and 20mm of rain is expected over the western parts, and between 40 and 60mm can be expected over the southern western mountains,” the Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning department said.
The department added that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is monitoring the situation.
“[The South African Weather Service] confirmed its outlook for strong to gale force west to north-westerly winds for the south-west coast and emphasised the high danger of runaway wildfires in the Garden Route District. The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to monitor river and dam levels, which are expected to rise significantly in the coming week.
“Eskom reported several outages over the past 48 hours caused by the severe weather. Cape Town, the West Coast and Overberg regions were hardest hit so far, and repair teams are attending to them as fast as possible,” the department said.
READ | Western Cape prepares for inclement weather
Disruptive weather
The department’s MEC Anton Bredell said since the first cold front made landfall over the weekend, the PDMC has received reports of damage and disruptions due in several areas.
“Widespread disruptions and damage, including loss of shelter in informal settlements, localised flooding, fallen trees, electricity outages, and road closures due to snow or flooding, were reported during our meeting [on Monday].
“The City of Cape Town, Overberg, Cape Winelands and West Coast Districts were hardest hit by the severe weather. As always, our focus remains on the safety of our residents and the humanitarian support that they need,” he said.
Significant rainfall has already been recorded in several towns in the Western Cape, including at Ceres, which received some 123mm and Elgin Grabouw which received 84mm of rainfall.
The provincial government and the national Department of Human Settlements are working together to assist those who have lost homes due to flooding.
Search and rescue operations are also ready for those communities cut off from main roads.
“Wuppertal and other communities in the Cederberg area will be reached by specialised 4x4 teams once a needs assessment has been conducted, and we will be ready for similar requests as the week unfolds,” Bredell said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:00
534 views
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Astronomical Union General Assembly 2024 to be held in SA
Astronomical Union General Assembly 2024 to be held in SA
With just more than a month to go, South Africa is set to become the centre of international astronomy as scientists from across the world gather for the XXXII (32nd) General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Cape Town.
The event is scheduled to take place from 6 to 15 August 2024.
According to the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), this will be the first time that an assembly of its kind will be held on African soil.
The gathering is expected to bring together over 2 000 international astronomers to address key topics in contemporary astronomy and assess the latest scientific progress in several specialised areas.
Led by the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), the IAU General Assembly is held every three years, with each event advancing the astronomical sciences through international collaboration.
“It also celebrates the continent’s rich astronomical heritage and commitment to advancing the field,” the department explained.
The hybrid event is being hosted by the National Research Foundation (NRF), supported by the DSI.
The academic programme will include over 2 000 presentations scheduled across more than 300 sessions.
The General Assembly will include six symposia and 12 multi-session focus meetings.
There will also be poster sessions and prize lectures given by recipients of prestigious awards in astronomy.
“Alongside international scientific impact, this meeting will have a societal impact that goes beyond national barriers in a continent-wide celebration of astronomy – Africa Astro Month.”
Meanwhile, learners, scientists, students and members of the public will be brought together for knowledge exchange and inspiration.
There will be limited opportunities for media to visit key astronomy sites, including the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, Northern Cape, and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), MeerKAT Radio Telescope and SKA-Mid Site in Carnarvon, Northern Cape. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Fri, 07/05/2024 - 11:31
409 views
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