Cape Town authorities remain on high alert as a powerful cold front continues to batter the metro, leaving one person dead, thousands displaced and several communities without electricity.
Speaking to Radio 786’s morning drive-time show, NRA, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the most destructive aspect of the storm has been the gale-force winds, which uprooted hundreds of trees across the city and caused extensive infrastructure damage.
“At least one person tragically lost their life in Kenilworth after a tree fell onto her vehicle,” Hill-Lewis said.
He noted that while the city typically experiences between 20 and 30 fallen trees during winter cold fronts, the current storm has been far more severe.
“This time, we have seen hundreds of trees uprooted across Cape Town,” the mayor said.
The strong winds also brought down several power lines, resulting in widespread electricity outages in multiple areas.
Meanwhile, severe flooding has affected several low-lying informal settlements across the metro. According to assessments by the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre, more than 5 600 people have been impacted in at least six areas.
The affected communities include Qandu Qandu and the Island informal settlement in Khayelitsha, as well as Vygieskraal in Athlone.
City officials say emergency and service teams are continuing mop-up operations as the frontal system causes widespread disruption. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and localised flooding have damaged homes, disrupted transport routes and hampered repair efforts.
The South African Weather Service has warned that adverse weather conditions are expected to persist into tomorrow.
Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell says repair work in some areas has been delayed because conditions remain too dangerous for crews.
“Some repairs are delayed due to unsafe, very windy conditions,” Powell said.
She added that damage assessments are ongoing in affected informal settlements and that where assessments have been completed, NGO partners have been activated to assist affected residents.
City authorities say all emergency services remain on standby as officials monitor conditions and respond to incidents across the metro.
