Cape Town mops up again

2003-09-02 12:15

Cape Town - Residents of informal settlements on the Cape Flats were mopping up on Tuesday morning after another end-of-winter storm hit the area on Monday.

Cape Town disaster management spokesperson Johan Minnie said about 2 600 shack-dwellers from Khayelitsha in the south to Wallacedene in the north, had been affected by flooding.

Several formal homes in New Macassar Village were also flooded out.

However most of the affected people slept over with friends or family, and only 280 took advantage of emergency accommodation in community halls and other facilities on Monday night.

Non-government organisations including the Red Cross had supplied 2 600 meals by 23:00 on Monday, and had handed out 1 800 blankets.

Minnie said authorities were hoping the situation would improve enough to allow people to return to their homes, as there was no rain forecast for Tuesday, and showers only for Wednesday and Thursday.

Engineers were working in Wallacedene to clear blocked stormwater drains.

Local government MEC Cobus Dowry is due to visit one of the flooded settlements, Kosovo, on Tuesday.

- SAPA