Cape Town faces severe flooding as cold front wreaks havoc
A parking assistant helps a shopper offload his trolley in torrential rain and flooding at Ottery Shopping Centre. Widespread flooding of roadways has occurred across the City.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
An icy cold front hit locals with bone-chilling temperatures and devastating floods on Wednesday.
And while forecasts by the South African Weather Service indicate that the worst is over, the rain is expected to continue through to Sunday evening.
Flooding was reported across the Mother City - from Kommetjie to Paarden Eiland.
On Wednesday morning, traffic from the M5 to the N1 was disrupted by flooding on the flyover near Paarden Eiland.
Townships like Khayelitsha, Vygieskraal, Parkwood, Bonnytoun, Imizamo Yethu, Hangberg and Overcome Heights took the brunt of the torrential downpours, with residents struggling to get out of their residential areas.
Civilian traffic alerts were shared on social media, with people posting from Elsies River, Bergvliet, Ottery, Claremont and Strandfontein.
Motorists navigate through flooded roads as heavy rains persisted on Wednesday.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Baden Powell Drive was one of the worst-hit thoroughfares, with flooding reported near to Stranfontein Pavillion and from the first circle toward Sunrise Circle.
Ottery Centre’s parking lot was under water with video footage showing cars with water rising to the grills.
The City of Cape Town’s spokesperson for Disaster Risk Management, Sonica Lategan, said impacts of any weather-related incidents are being monitored.
“This far, the Disaster Operations Centre has received reports of wind damage in New Culture on Mew Way in Khayelitsha, and an overflowing canal in Vygieskraal.
“Officials have been activated to conduct on-site assessments."
Ottery Centre’s parking lot was under water with video footage showing cars with water rising to the grills.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
She urged residents to report emergency incidents to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre at 021 480 7700.
The City’s Traffic Services issued updates of flooding throughout the day, including on Greenwich Road in Diep River, Govan Mbeki and Edward Makele in Gugulethu, Klipfontein Road in Gugulethu and Manitoba Close in Portlands, Mitchell's Plain.
Traffic Services spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout warned drivers to be alert in the coming days, with the roads expected to be wet for the rest of the week.
She said: “The wet conditions are expected to continue for the next few days.
An uber eats delivery driver tries to make his way through the flooded roads as heavy rains persist in the Western cape.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Motorists are urged to watch their speed and following distance, and to drive with their headlights on.”
Meanwhile the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has appealed to the maritime community, shoreline anglers, paddlers, sailors and coastal walkers/hikers to be cautious during the cold front, as rough sea conditions are being experienced.
"Don’t venture down to the coastline or launch to go to sea unless absolutely necessary.
"Commercial seafarers, sailors and fishermen who are at sea during this time – wear your life jackets while at sea."
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