Stop press: rain brings challenges
After the heavy rains that have hit the Garden Route since Tuesday 14 November, both the Knysna municipality and SANParks say they are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared for any eventuality.
Municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhout said on Wednesday 15 November, at the time of going to press, that although the rain is “extremely welcome”, it has unfortunately brought with it a couple of challenges, such as the mudslides in the Brenton area and the temporary closure of the N2 on Tuesday. “Road signs have been put up to alert motorists and we appeal to all to be alert and drive safely,” he said.
A municipal team, supported by the Eden District municipality and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), are dealing with the erosion caused by the rain by maintaining the “control blankets” and “environmental sausages” that were put in place after the fires in June, Bezuidenhout said.
“Our teams have also started with preliminary mop-ups, but once the rain has passed the full programme will come into effect,” he said.
Bezuidenhout urged residents to keep the municipality informed of incidents or emergencies that may arise on 044 302 8911.
SANParks spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba said the national parks managing body has been monitoring water levels from Tuesday since the 100% rain prediction, and they suspect they might open the estuary mouths due to the increasing water levels. “Bulldozers are already very close to where these systems are,” she said.
“About 50mm of rain was measured thus far in Diepwalle, Knysna forest and about 35mm in Knysna’s Thesen Island jetty. The Swartvlei estuary mouth has been breached, and the Touws river-mouth should be successfully breached soon. There are currently machines at the Touws river and Swartvlei estuaries to assist with breaching the estuary mouths,” said Mgwadlamba.
The rainfall at the Swartvlei estuary system was monitored for 24 hours and readings by 07:00 on Wednesday were: Farleigh: 48mm
Sedgefield: 63mm
Touws river near Buffelskop: 33mm Ebb & Flow rest camp: water level 1.9m. At the time of going to print, Mgwadlamba said no further incidents were reported as a result of the rain.