Muthomi Ireri
Severe Storms Devastate Cape Town’s Informal Settlements
Nearly 1,000 homes in informal settlements across Cape Town, South Africa, have been demolished by gale-force winds, displacing approximately 4,000 residents, according to authorities and a local aid organization. The city is bracing for a week of destructive storms, with weather officials forecasting multiple cold fronts until at least Friday. These fronts are expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding to Cape Town and its surrounding areas.
Cape Town’s disaster coordination team has been on high alert since the arrival of the first front last Thursday. The hardest-hit areas are the impoverished informal settlements on the outskirts of the city, particularly in Khayelitsha township. Thousands of people have been displaced after their homes and structures were destroyed by the powerful winds.
Local aid organization Gift of the Givers reported providing 10,000 meals and 3,000 blankets to displaced individuals in Khayelitsha over the weekend. Meanwhile, other parts of the city have experienced flooding, leading to power outages in more than 30 suburbs. The City of Cape Town is closely monitoring dam levels to prevent overflow and is considering controlled water releases due to the anticipated heavy rainfall throughout the week.
Cape Town frequently experiences severe winter storms originating from the Atlantic Ocean, which disproportionately impact vulnerable informal settlements.
Dj Vnyash
Silverio Omari
