Severe Weather Continues to Wreak Havoc in Western Cape, Displacing Thousands

Severe weather conditions persist in the Western Cape region, disrupting normal life and displacing thousands of residents, according to a recent update provided by Premier Alan Winde and government officials.

The South African Weather Service has issued severe weather warnings, including disruptive rain and flooding alerts for areas such as the Cape Town Metro, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch.

The Wemmershoek Dam has seen a controlled release of water to prevent downstream flooding, while around 4,000 structures have been damaged, affecting over 15,000 individuals in the Cape Town Metro alone.

Government agencies, NGOs like Gift of the Givers Foundation and Islamic Relief SA, and utility provider Eskom are working tirelessly to provide relief efforts and restore essential services in heavily impacted areas such as Citrusdal, De Doorns, Touwsrivier, and Delft.

Reports indicate that over 130 schools have suffered infrastructure damage, leading to closures in the Cape Town Metro, Cape Winelands, Overberg, and other regions for safety concerns.

Evacuation orders have been issued in areas like Khayelitsha and Citrusdal, while port operations in Cape Town, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth, and Ngqura have experienced disruptions, further complicating relief efforts.