Around 1 000 residents in the Vygieskraal informal settlement have been badly impacted by the storm, with ankle and even knee-deep flooding across the settlement.
Mischka Chachu, chair of the Ubuntu Vygieskraal Community Leaders, said it has been very bad, the banks of the Vygieskraal Canal also having burst. Situated along the banks of the canal, the plot on which the settlement is situated is water-logged and does periodically experience flooding, but not to this extent, residents said.
“It has been very bad, our electrical appliances such as fridges and stoves are all damaged,” said Chachu. “Our furniture is damaged. Mattresses… everything is damaged. We could not even send our children to school. Disaster management has been good, and we have got more sponsors.”
Relief and flooding kits to residents in informal settlements across the city have exceeded 6 500, said Mayco Member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim in a statement, with Vygieskraal, Khayelitsha, Tafelsig and Nomzamo among the worst-affected in the City.
Chachu said the City will also provide milling and sandbags to assist inside the shelters to aid in drainage and keeping water out.
The water has gone down a bit, but is constantly rising and dropping, said Chachu.
There have been no injuries reported, but the damages have been a lot.
Ashraful Aid and Al-Imdaad Foundation have actively assisted the residents, said Chachu.
