Misery for residents after houses swept away

HUNDREDS of residents living in informal settlements had their houses swept away by heavy winds and had to wade knee-deep through waterlogged homes yesterday.

Motorists and pedestrians were forced to use alternative routes as roads flooded in the Cape Peninsula.

Hilda Sokrwanca from Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay, where 362 structures were hit, said she watched hopelessly as water filled their two-room shack before it was swept away by heavy winds.

And Imizamo Yethu residents, including Sokrwanca, complained that not much had been done to assist them and they had to spend Tuesday night and yesterday morning in the cold.

Sokrwanca lost some of her building material and clothing and spent the night at the local community hall.

“The rain was pouring hard and the wind made it worse. Our clothing started getting soaked. We climbed on the bed hoping the rain would stop. Minutes later the house literally flew away from us. We realised the house has been surrounded with water. Our neighbours were in a similar situation,” said Sokrwanca.

She said she did not know what to do except wait for the disaster risk management to assist her but she was worried that help could take days or weeks to come.

Another Imizamo Yethu resident Andiswa Nqenqa said she survived the Tuesday night storm but was hit by yesterday’s morning rains.

She said there were no updates from the city on what plans there were to help them.

It is believed up to 2 000 people might have been affected. In Khayelitsha, taxi drivers had to use buckets to bale water from their vehicles after roads around the Nolungile train station flooded.

At least three taxis broke down and were abandoned by their drivers until the storms abated.

People returning from work on trains had to cross the road carrying their shoes.

City workers were busy clearing trees that were uprooted by gale-force winds.

Mayoral committee member for safety, security and social services JP Smith said that the city’s Disaster Risk Management department had activated its relief agencies. Food and blankets were provided to those affected.

Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela said the Disaster Risk Management and Informal Settlement Management departments would continue to secure structures with additional sand and concrete blocks in an effort to prevent wind damage.

The possibility of the storm getting stronger today cannot be ruled out. Snowfalls could be experienced in some parts of the Western Cape.