Cape Town - Rivers, dams and canals across the City and province have reached full capacity with several bursting its banks due to the continuous rainfall.
Water and sanitation mayco member Zahid Badroodien said the City received a flurry of notifications about the overflows, including to the Liesbeek River that overflowed along certain sections.
Other rivers and canals that overflowed included the Vygekraal River and Blomvlei Canal in the Rylands/ Crawford areas.
Badroodien said Jakklesvlei Canal caused flooding in Langa Zone 3.
Flooding was also reported at the Blinkwater Stream in Camp’s Bay.
“In times of heavy rainfall, within the central region, the Diep River also tends to experience flooding in certain low-lying areas which can affect neighbouring communities. This river originates in the Swartland area and flows into the Rietvlei in Table View, and ultimately into the Milnerton Lagoon. Flooding issues are also experienced along the Blinkwater stream in Camps Bay.
“In the eastern region of the city, some areas susceptible to flooding include the Sir Lowry’s Pass River in the vicinity of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and Dennehof Street, the Kuils River at Driftsands Dam, and the Eerste River at Kramat/ Sandvlei, Macassar and the Soet River tributaries through informal settlements in Nomzamo and Lwandle,” said Badroodien.
The Western Cape Government said dam levels continued to rise, with the Berg River Dam at 107.13%; Clanwilliam Dam at 92%; Misverstand Dam at 155%; and Theewaterskloof Dam at 83.8%.
In the Drakenstein Municipality yesterday, residents of Newton in Wellington, who evacuated their homes voluntarily on Wednesday, were advised to not return yesterday.
The municipality said this was due to the failure risk of a 150 000-cubic-meter dam wall in the Bo-Dal area above Newton.
“Residents of Newton – in particular the section between Jan van Riebeeck Drive and the Bo-Dal Road – have been responding positively to the call by the Municipality and Councillor Stephen Korabie, its Executive Mayor, to evacuate their homes voluntarily in the interest of their and their families’ safety. Houses in the area have been placed under 24-hour protection of the SAPS, currently stationed in Newton, while the Municipality’s Fire and Law Enforcement Services are doing patrols and additional security is being provided by a neighbourhood watch,” the municipality said.
In Cape Town, Athlone ward councillor Rashid Adams said: “Some of our sewer drains were overflowing because the lids were shot out. But the moment the rains stopped, the water was able to recede.”
Water had subsided in most areas and no blockages were present at yesterday.
The Vygieskraal River, which ran through Nantes Park, had burst its banks but the overflow as a result had also subsided.
“We are currently looking at the block sewer drains that have been reported but most have been attended to, just one or two that were reported on Wednesday and I do know the department. I can safely say there hasn’t been major damage to any properties within the area,” Adams said.
The ward has also experienced a number of power outages since the start of the inclement weather.
“We are currently busy at this moment contacting our Vanguard Depot which is working around the clock so we have a number of properties within the area that were without power.”
“A number of households in Bridgetown were also without power.”
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
Cape Argus