{"id":909121,"date":"2026-05-29T14:13:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/news24-mop-up-operations-begin-after-heavy-rains-flood-parts-of-cape-town\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:13:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:13:54","slug":"news24-mop-up-operations-begin-after-heavy-rains-flood-parts-of-cape-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/news24-mop-up-operations-begin-after-heavy-rains-flood-parts-of-cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"News24 | Mop-up operations begin after heavy rains flood parts of Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<ul id=\"U17732573050bMA\">\n<li><b>Heavy rainfall over the weekend has resulted in some localised flooding in parts of Cape Town. <\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Disaster Risk Management teams are out on the ground in various areas doing assessments on the reported damage. <\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Authorities have warned that more rain can be expected.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p>Mop-up operations are under way across parts of Cape Town after heavy weekend downpours triggered localised flooding, but authorities warn the situation remains precarious with more rain expected in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell said only \u201csome isolated flooding\u201d had been reported, which the City of Cape Town\u2019s Disaster Risk Management teams had managed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom a provincial perspective, our disaster centre is monitoring the situation, and we are in contact with our district disaster centres. Nothing major has been reported so far. We are expecting another 30mm of rain today [Monday],\u201d Bredell added.<\/p>\n<p>SA Weather Service spokesperson Tokelo Chiloane said about 50mm of rain was recorded in the south-western parts of the Western Cape in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p>She added 63mm was recorded in Stellenbosch, 53mm in Ceres, and 49mm in Bellville.<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p> \u201cWe have no reports of dams overflowing, especially in the Western Cape. The Western Cape is a winter rainfall region, which means that [it] gets [its] rainfall from winter weather systems such as cold fronts,\u201d said Chiloane, adding that the weekend saw two cold fronts in the province. <\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_932734f8\" data-embed24=\"Images\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news24cobalt.24.co.za\/resources\/02a4-206f8d1e1f85-1fda3ff32f63-1000\/format\/inline\/whatsapp_image_2026-04-20_at_11.52.38_1_.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>Gift of the Givers in Dunoon,  providing relief to communities affected by the rain.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Supplied by Gift of the Givers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>She added that isolated showers and rain were expected in places over the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape due to the passage of weak cold fronts throughout the week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo significant amount of rainfall is expected at this stage.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Chiloane said a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging waves and coastal winds for Monday and Tuesday for the entire Western Cape coastline was issued on Monday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince we are heading into the winter season where rainfall and veld fires coexist in the Western Cape, we advise the public to take note of flooded bridges, avoid driving over an overflowing bridge, refrain from starting fires when the fire index is high, [and] avoid going to the beach when there is damaging wind and\/or waves warning along the coast,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_40554ae4\" data-embed24=\"Images\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news24cobalt.24.co.za\/resources\/02a4-206f8d1e1f87-c790a8f5d8be-1000\/format\/inline\/whatsapp_image_2026-04-20_at_11.52.38_2_.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>A flooded home in Dunoon.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Supplied by Gift of the Givers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, the City said the inclement weather had caused \u201chigh service request volumes\u201d and heavy rain was delaying restoration times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe City apologises for the inconvenience while our teams attend to electricity area faults [outages impacting entire streets and surrounds], primarily due to the stormy, wet weather. <\/p>\n<p>It added: <\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_4261ea73\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\">\n<p>Rain and high wind speeds make electrical work dangerous, but the City\u2019s energy teams are nonetheless on the ground attending to the various outages and backlogs with urgency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The City\u2019s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Sonia Lategan, said teams were still on the ground conducting assessments in affected areas, including the Mkhonto Square informal settlement in Nyanga and Brown\u2019s Farm, because \u201cwidespread areas were affected by localised flooding as a result of the downpours over the weekend\u201d.<\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_d52e6f36\" data-embed24=\"Images\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news24cobalt.24.co.za\/resources\/02a4-206f8d1e1f87-2f2fa2fd069a-1000\/format\/inline\/whatsapp_image_2026-04-20_at_11.52.36.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>Gift of the Givers takes stock of a resident&#8217;s flooded home.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Supplied by Gift of the Givers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lategan added that reports of flooding were also received from the Europe informal settlement in Gugulethu, Gaba Village, and Avon Heights in Leonsdale and Elsies River. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter assessments, it was determined that the main problems were leaking roofs and wet floors.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>According to her, the Dunoon community also experienced \u201csignificant flooding of roads\u201d around Silverleaf and Orchard roads.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur department was on site to assess temporary measures, including flow diversions and property protection, and is implementing what is feasible to reduce flooding impacts,\u201d Lategan said. <\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_f80a0f5b\" data-embed24=\"Twitter\">\n<blockquote data-width=\"550\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>This is Du Noon, Ward 104 where recently we won a by-election. It\u2019s been raining heavily in Cape Town. One wonders how the DA-led city will respond to the flooding crisis in many working class neighbourhoods. <\/p>\n<p>They will probably be silent. They will not do the drama they did in\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r8chGljpb6\">pic.twitter.com\/r8chGljpb6<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MbalulaFikile\/status\/2045866798591922222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>She added that there were no displacements and that Road Infrastructure Management was activated to assist with sand\/milling in affected areas, and an informal settlement management branch was requested to assist with plastic sheeting. <\/p>\n<p><b>ANALYSIS | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/opinions\/analysis\/analysis-climate-change-is-overwhelming-already-failing-municipalities-20260417-0856\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Climate change is overwhelming already failing municipalities<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lategan said localised flooding reports were being channelled through the Transport Management Centre for intervention by roads and stormwater teams.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere has also been localised flooding of roads, and in Simon\u2019s Town, water couldn\u2019t clear quickly enough due to the heavy downpours,\u201d she added, noting that no major residential impact had been reported at this stage.<\/p>\n<p>However, humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers said it had been inundated with calls for help from communities hardest hit by the rain.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday morning, teams were deployed to Dunoon, where residents had already begun sweeping water out of their homes as the rain subsided.<\/p>\n<p>Resident Linda Potelwa described Sunday night\u2019s downpour as \u201cterrible\u201d, saying both her kitchen and bedroom were flooded.<\/p>\n<p>She added: <\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_58ae7915\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\">\n<p>The worst part of the year is arriving, and now we again have to sweep all the dirt, water and mud out of the house. It\u2019s not nice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Potelwa said her two children only left for school after 09:00 once the rain eased.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLuckily, their school clothes were not wet, but the boys wanted to stay at home and help me clean the water out, but I said they must go so I can clean the place up while they\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added that Gift of the Givers teams were already in the area, assisting residents with food and blankets and helping clear water from flooded homes.<\/p>\n<p><b>WATCH | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/southafrica\/news\/watch-zille-rides-boat-on-flooded-soweto-road-highlighting-long-standing-drainage-drama-20260414-0977\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Zille rides boat on flooded Soweto road, highlighting long-standing drainage drama<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the organisation had received calls for assistance from multiple informal settlements across the Cape metro and Drakenstein areas, as ongoing rainfall led to widespread flooding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur teams are currently engaging with community leaders and local councillors to assess the extent of the impact and coordinate an effective response.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cActivation of relief efforts will commence shortly to provide support and assistance to affected families and communities,\u201d Sablay added.<\/p>\n<p>He said hot meals, blankets, detergent packs, hygiene packs and warm clothing would be distributed to affected families.<\/p>\n<p>Areas that have requested assistance include Lwandle, Nomzamo, Strand, Valhalla Park, Mitchells Plain, Philippi, Dunoon, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Gugulethu, and Kayamandi.<\/p>\n<p>City traffic chief Kevin Jacobs said no major disruptions had been reported, although the left lane on Rhodes Drive was flooded.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, political parties have weighed in on the flooding.<\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_a4129fa0\" data-embed24=\"Images\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news24cobalt.24.co.za\/resources\/02a4-206f8d1e1f87-57b51948aca3-1000\/format\/inline\/whatsapp_image_2026-04-20_at_11.52.39.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>A Du Noon residents emptying water out of his house.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Supplied by Gift of the Givers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>GOOD party councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli criticised the City over repeated flooding in low-lying communities, accusing it of failing to properly maintain and upgrade its stormwater infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>Mamkeli said the annual \u201cwinter readiness\u201d messaging from the City amounted to little more than public relations, while residents continued to suffer during heavy rains.<\/p>\n<p><b>READ | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/southafrica\/news\/cold-rain-and-crowds-as-navy-festival-kicks-off-in-simons-town-20260418-0858\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Cold, rain and crowds as Navy Festival kicks off in Simon\u2019s Town<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery year, the same cycle repeats itself. The City rolls out a \u2018winter readiness\u2019 campaign, showcases teams cleaning manholes and sweeping roads, and assures residents that it is prepared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen the rain arrives and the same roads flood, the same areas choke, and the same communities are left stranded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also entered the debate on social media, posting videos of flooding in Dunoon on his X account and directing criticism at the DA\u2019s leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Mbalula called on the DA\u2019s Johannesburg mayoral hopeful, Helen Zille, to \u201cswim in right where her DA governs, Cape Town\u201d, in a pointed reference to Zille\u2019s recent social media post highlighting potholes in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n<p>Patriotic Alliance mayoral candidate councillor Cheslyn Steenberg visited Dunoon on Monday, where he said the flooding of informal settlements and low-income areas was the result of systemic failure rather than natural disasters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe repeated flooding of Dunoon and other low-income communities in Cape Town is not an act of nature,\u201d Steenberg added.<\/p>\n<div id=\"embed_38335a62\" data-embed24=\"Images\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news24cobalt.24.co.za\/resources\/02a4-206f8d1e1f88-57961981729e-1000\/format\/inline\/whatsapp_image_2026-04-20_at_11.41.51_1_.jpeg\"><\/p>\n<p>PA mayoral candidate,  councillor Cheslyn Steenberg in Du Noon to assess the flood damages of the weekend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cIt is a man-made crisis caused by years of neglect, failure to plan, and an unacceptable tolerance for suffering in poor areas by the DA-led City of Cape Town.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said the annual winter flooding cycle was predictable and preventable, arguing that the City was well aware of the areas most affected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery winter, the same communities are submerged, homes are destroyed, possessions lost, and livelihoods interrupted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis devastation is entirely predictable. The City knows exactly where flooding occurs, when it occurs, and why it occurs \u2013 yet it is allowed to happen again and again,\u201d added Steenberg.<\/p>\n<p>The City had previously stated that it continued to invest in stormwater maintenance and infrastructure upgrades ahead of the winter season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/southafrica\/news\/mop-up-operations-begin-after-heavy-rains-flood-parts-of-cape-town-20260420-0672\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heavy rainfall over the weekend has resulted in some localised flooding in parts of Cape Town. Disaster Risk Management teams are out on the ground in various areas doing assessments on the reported damage. Authorities have warned that more rain can be expected. Mop-up operations are under way across parts of Cape Town after heavy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":909122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[149845,26877],"tags":[149844,17866],"class_list":{"0":"post-909121","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mop-up","8":"category-operations","9":"tag-mop-up","10":"tag-operations"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=909121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/909122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=909121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=909121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=909121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}