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Level 6 warning declared as two new fronts bear down on Western Cape

Level 6 warning declared as two new fronts bear down on Western Cape
evere flooding an Oasis farms on July 11, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that formal and informal housing structures, electrical and communication infrastructure, as well as roads and trees, have been severely damaged by storms and winds that swept through the region. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)
Suné Payne
By Suné Payne
12 Jul 2024
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At least one person has died in the relentless disruptive rain and flooding in the Western Cape as communities try to recover from a week’s worth of intense rain and cold. With more rain to come, the focus now shifts to humanitarian aid for 100,000 people affected across the Cape metropole.

Two more cold fronts are expected to make landfall this weekend in the Western Cape. According to Western Cape premier Alan Winde on Friday morning, the weather service has confirmed a Level 6 warning for disruptive rain in Stellenbosch and Witzenberg this weekend.

“According to the predictions, we can expect between 60 and 100mm of rain in the mountainous areas. Our dams and rivers are full, and our catchments are saturated, so any additional rainfall could lead to flooding, mudslides, and rock falls. We repeat our call to the public to stay safe, avoid unnecessary travel and keep informed through reputable news outlets,” said Winde. 

Read Daily Maverick’s coverage of the ongoing storm here: Western Cape severe weather updates, home protection tips, and relief resources  

This followed a week’s worth of inclement weather – disruptive rain, damaging winds and cold – in parts of the Western Cape. On Friday, the provincial government confirmed that 100,000 residents and 33,000 structures had been affected thus far.

One person dead


On Friday morning, Cape Argus reported that a man had died after assisting a motorist after their car got caught in the rain on Thursday. The incident occurred in the morning and the individual stayed with the motorist until a tow truck company arrived. Then the individual walked off into a flooded road, only to be swept away. They have not been identified by the police. 

Severe flooding an Oasis farms. (Photo: Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)



Confirming the death, Western Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said:  “At the time of the incident, the roads were flooded. SAPS and fire and rescue divers were deployed to search the area where the person was last seen by a witness, upon which a search ensued. The body of an unknown man was retrieved from the water. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel, he said.

Residents cold, wet and worried about rain


The July winter storms have heavily affected communities whose homes have been flooded, and also on roads and other infrastructure. 

On Friday morning, Daily Maverick spoke to Nkange Bamanye, a security guard at the station deck in Cape Town. 

“I live with my child and girlfriend. My child has not been going to school, she will go next week,” he said. Bamanye commuted from Samora Machel in Philippi – although he made use of staff transport to get to work, he described the situation as “very bad, it’s raining” and said that his family had not yet been assisted with relief efforts. 

Daily Maverick reported on Thursday that some of the most affected areas are Khayelitsha, Lwandle in Strand, Nomzamo, Gugulethu, Masiphumelele, Macassar, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Mfuleni, Tafelsig, Vygieskraal and Ocean View. 

A trader at the deck, Nomawethu Dotwana, who lives in the Endlovini informal settlement in Khayelitsha, said: “Yesterday I did not come to work because of this rain. Water was coming into my house and I did not have electricity.” 

Another woman, Patricia Gayza from Heinz Park, near Mitchells Plain, told Daily Maverick:  “Where I live, water was running into the house, we cannot even leave our houses, my yard fell and currently my blankets are wet.” Her grandchild did not return to school on Friday, following the closure of all public schools in Cape Town over concerns about learner and staff safety. 

What’s next? 


The province has now called for the declaration of a provincial disaster. Premier Alan Winde said on Friday: “I urge national authorities to expedite this process. We desperately need additional resources to sustain our disaster management operations. Assessments still need to be finalised, and from our side, as the Western Cape government and our stakeholders in the province, we are working flat out to complete this process. I want to again thank all stakeholders for everything they do in the service of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.” DM

Additional reporting by Lisakanya Venna and Siyabonga Goni

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