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Western Cape weather warnings remain as response teams race to help those in need

Western Cape weather warnings remain as response teams race to help those in need
Khemal Harris inside his house. His roof was blown off on 11 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 strong winds that swept through the region. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)
Suné Payne and Velani Ludidi
By Suné Payne and Velani Ludidi
11 Jul 2024
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Schools in the Overberg and Cape Winelands will remain closed on Friday as foul weather continues to lash parts of the province. And more storms are on the way.

“We escaped from the back as the house got destroyed by the wind,” said Yonela Dolophini from the Nkandla informal settlement in Khayelitsha. She was recalling the terrible weather that has caused misery in parts of the Western Cape over the last week. 

On Wednesday night, her family of five narrowly escaped harm.

“The strong wind came with the rain and our neighbours took us in. We did not only lose our home but also our groceries for the month,” she said. 

Five people escaped unharmed from this shack when it was destroyed by wind on Thursday. (Photo: Velani Ludidi)



Western Cape storms Severe flooding hit outlying areas of Cape Town on 11 July. (Photo by Gallo Images / Ziyaad Douglas)



Western Cape storms Homes were flooded in the series of cold fronts that hit Cape Town. (Photo: Department of Human Settlements)



For the best part of a week, areas of the Western Cape have been hammered by cold fronts bringing strong winds, downpours and plummeting temperatures. 

A Level 8 weather warning was issued for Thursday in Cape Town, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch.

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

In Lwandle, water was cut off for over 12 hours due to a burst pipe. Shacks are built on top of the burst pipe and people have to be relocated before it can be repaired and water restored.

Ward 99 councillor Lonwabo Mqina told Daily Maverick that hundreds of people were left destitute following the heavy rains on Thursday. (Photo: Velani Ludidi)



Ward 99 councillor Lonwabo Mqina described the impact of the storm as devastating, with many referring to the strong wind as a tornado.

“People are sleeping outside,” he said. “More than 1,000 structures were affected, and every day things are getting worse. People last week could make themselves warm by starting small fires, but since the rain started, that has not been possible.”

Read more in Daily Maverick: Western Cape severe weather updates, home protection tips, and relief resources 

No tornado in Wynberg 


On Thursday morning, reports went viral of a tornado in Wynberg, in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. However, the South African Weather Service said it was unlikely that it was a tornado or even a landspout.

“There is no evidence of convective development at the time of the wind event (around 11.20pm) or through the night. No lightning occurred, no reflectivity on radar and satellite only indicates cloud without clumping,” said Kate Turner from the Cape Town Weather Office.  

“As a result, it is most likely that the damage occurred from strong straight-line winds. These winds may have been enhanced by a possible channelling effect through a mountain gorge. Across the Cape, exceptionally strong winds materialised throughout Wednesday and the night, which was in line with the conditions expected in the impact-based wind warning,” said Turner. 

Relocation efforts


In response to the severe weather conditions, hundreds of Cape Town residents will be temporarily placed in hotels and BnBs following intervention by the human settlements ministry. 

Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala led a delegation on Thursday to assess what is being done for families affected by the storms. 

Western Cape storms Human settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala with a human settlements delegation to see what's being done for families affected by gale-force winds and heavy rains in the City of Cape Town. (Photo: Department of Human Settlements)



The delegation visited disaster-stricken areas in Khayelitsha, including Nkandla, Zami Mpilo, Kuyasa and Victoria Mxenge. Scores of people have been left homeless across the province, with the number expected to rise due to continued rainfalls and potential flooding.

“We normally do a lease of 30 days for them,” said Kubayi. “We have leased a place that was a boarding school while we see if they will be able to return to the places where they were staying. Our concern is the Level 8 warning, which means the rain will continue.”

The minister said she’d return with her team in two weeks to plan proactive measures to prevent homes from being impacted by flooding in future.

“We have to go back to the minister of finance. I know he’s agitated by us always spending money in response to disasters. He’s been saying to us, ‘can you be proactive and prevent these disasters?’” 

Gift of the Givers project manager in the Western Cape, Ali Sablay, was distributing hot meals in Site B, Khayelitsha, when he spoke to Daily Maverick. 

Western Cape storms Gift of the Givers' Ali Sablay has been offering a helping hand to communities in Cape Town during the bad weather. (Photo: Velani Ludidi)



“Our teams are assisting in 12 informal settlements in the metropolitan area, and we are distributing around 15,000 meals. We are receiving calls from areas like Drakenstein, Breede Valley and Cederberg… our operations have been ongoing since the bad weather started.”

He said they have already provided 5,000 blankets and over 50,000 meals.

“Our operations will continue until Sunday,” said Sablay.

Schools closed for second day


Meanwhile, the Western Cape education department has decided to keep schools closed in the Overberg and Cape Winelands for a second day on Friday. David Maynier, MEC for Education, said the decision was taken following a meeting with provincial disaster risk management.

“​​This decision is based on the interests of learner and teacher safety in the Overberg and Cape Winelands Education Districts, particularly with regard to travelling to and from schools. Extensive rainfall has caused widespread damage to roads and flooding, affecting school transport routes. A number of schools have also reported flood damage to their premises,” explained Maynier.

“These schools will reopen on Monday 15 July unless communicated otherwise,” he said. 

Thus far, 217 schools across the Western Cape have reported some form of damage to infrastructure or disruption to classes, with 86 cases regarded as serious and requiring attention. 

Drakenstein and Overstrand


In the Drakenstein Municipality, clinics in Rawsonville, Simondium and Wellington have been closed due to the impact of the storms.

Western Cape storms Relocations from flooded areas are currently underway in Cape Town. (Photo: Department of Human Settlements)



Residents try to walk around flooded areas in Masincedani in Strandfontein on 11 July 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)



Western Cape storms Various organisations have partnered and offered warm meals to Khayelitsha residents following the inclement weather. (Photo: Velani Ludidi)



Western Cape storms Relocations from flooded areas are underway in Cape Town. (Photo: Department of Human Settlements)



Western Cape storms Khemal Harris inside his house. His roof was blown off on 11 July in Cape Town. Homes, roads and infrastructure have been damaged by strong winds and heavy rains that swept through the region. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)



Residents of Newton, who were asked to evacuate their homes, have been told not to return home yet due to risks of a dam wall failure and further rain expected during the next 48 hours. The situation will be reassessed on Friday morning. 

According to the Overstrand Municipality, Clarence Drive (R44) between Rooi-Els and Gordon’s Bay has been closed due to rockfalls. Engineers will conduct an assessment on Friday.

“They will open the road as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Overstrand municipal manager, Dean O’Neill.

Properties in Hermanus have reported flooding, while power is expected to be restored to neighbouring Kleinmond on Friday evening. 

Warnings continue 


The elevated weather warnings remain in place for Friday and Saturday. 

According to the weather service, a series of cold fronts will bring more rain.

There is also a warning for damaging winds on Friday and Saturday between Lambert’s Bay and Mossel Bay, as well as over the southern part of the Namakwa region in the Northern Cape, the Cape Town metro, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Overberg and the western areas of the Garden Route. 

Another warning for damaging waves from Alexander Bay to Plettenberg Bay over the next two days was also issued.

Western Cape premier Alan Winde said there would be daily Joint Operations Centre meetings until the inclement weather had passed. 

“I urge all residents to remain safe and not take unnecessary risks,” he said. DM

  • Freelance photojournalist and regular contributor to Daily Maverick David Harrison was robbed of his camera equipment in Langa on Thursday morning. Harrison was on assignment to capture images of flooded homes and the storm damage when he was attacked and assaulted. Anyone with information or becomes aware of the equipment being resold is asked to contact Daily Maverick.

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