Although weather conditions have improved across the Western Cape, the aftermath of the storms is still critical with relief and repair work underway in many places in the province.
By Lucille Botha, Marise Schoonraad, Fredalette Uys en T’Keyah Pietersen
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has confirmed 10 deaths in the province related to the storms that have raged since Monday 11 May, said Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, in a statement issued on Wednesday 13 May.
“Teams are still actively involved in rescue efforts in various areas, especially in the West Coast and Cape Winelands districts, where floods and infrastructure damage have affected thousands of residents,” said Bredell.
According to the statement, more than 2 000 people have been displaced in the Cape Winelands alone, with additional evacuations and sheltering ongoing in several districts.
Authorities are warning that a variety of river systems in the province are experiencing high flow volumes. The Clanwilliam Dam is already 103% full, with all sluice gates open. The Breede River is also currently flowing at high volumes, with a flow rate of 1 655m³ per second measured at Swellendam on Wednesday morning, and flash floods remain a significant risk.
Three dead, many trapped on roofs as Rawsonville and Wolseley reel under storm
Emergency services have been struggling in the Worcester, Rawsonville and Wolseley areas for the past few days after hundreds of millimetres of rain fell and gale-force winds wreaked havoc across a large area.
At least three people have died in the storm and families have been trapped on roofs for hours by the rising Breede River. Many farmers are currently stranded on their farms without signal and electricity, while vineyards and roads have been washed away and the Breede River and its tributaries have burst their banks in many places.
Rawsonville is still cut off from the outside world, making communication with emergency services difficult.
“The rain has stopped now, but there is a lot of damage here,” says Nico Harmse, director at security company G24 Management Solutions. “The power is out, there is no cellphone reception and the diesel pumps are also out.”
According to him, about 625mm of rain fell in the Klipdrift area. The town itself received between 425mm and 480mm of rain.
On the farm Holland, Jaco and Phoebé Botha and their children fled to the roof of their house at around 01h00 to escape the rising water.
“We made several attempts to reach them, but it was unsuccessful. Eventually other farmers came to help with a bulldozer and a private boat to pick them up,” says Harmse.
“A total of 23 farm workers on the farm were also trapped on their roofs. Due to the vineyards, the boat could not reach them and they were only rescued several hours later and brought to our office, where we gave them soup. Unfortunately, we later discovered three bodies, which is the worst part of it all.”
In Rawsonville’s informal settlement of Spokiesdorp, about 250 people are currently being housed in the community hall. Several people were evacuated from their homes and vehicles in Wolseley.
“There were also requests for evacuations along the Breede River, but unfortunately the boat had to turn around because the floodwaters were just too strong. We were in radio contact with the people the whole time and everyone is fortunately safe,” says Harmse.
According to a statement by the Cape Winelands District Municipality, about 1 900 people were evacuated in Worcester. The entire Silwerstrand resort outside Robertson was evacuated on Monday evening, 11 May.
“A number of people are still trapped by the floodwaters. A reconnaissance flight will be undertaken today (Wednesday) to determine the extent of people who have been cut off, as well as the full impact of the damage.”
Harmse says residents are very dependent on each other, with the local doctor already having dealt with several emergencies, including a maternity case. The full extent of the damage will become clearer as the river begins to subside. “I think we got more rain than we usually get in a year. The Holsloot River looked normal one moment and a little while later it was full. The town is full of fallen trees and our big substation was under water, so I think the power is going to be out for a while.”
Major damage was reported on roads such as the R43 and the road to Ceres.
“The N1 is also currently closed due to mudslides at the Huguenot Tunnel and the Du Kloof Lodge. We are completely isolated at this stage and everywhere you look there is water – it looks like we are surrounded by a giant dam,” says Harmse.
According to the Cape Winelands District Municipality, clean-up operations are underway, but once access is restored it will take several hours to clear the backlog of trucks and buses.
About 250 trucks were stranded on the N1 between the De Wet turn-off and the weighbridge heading towards Cape Town. Twenty-two buses were parked at the Ultra City on the N1, where resources were deployed to provide water and sanitation facilities.
“Although the worst of the storm is over, the damage is enormous. Clean-up operations, restoring power supply and assisting those who have lost roofs and homes will now be prioritised.”
Also read: Strong winds damage agriculture property and infrastructure in KZN Midlands
‘Emotions are running high’ among Ceres farmers
There was hardly a pass in the valley that was not under water at the time. Michell’s Pass, between Ceres and Worcester, Theronsberg Pass, between Ceres and the Koue Bokkeveld, and Bainskloof Pass, between Wellington and Wolseley, were all closed due to the torrential rain in the area.
No one can remember when this amount of rain and these water levels were last recorded, says Rossouw Cillié, who farms at the foot of the Matroosberg.
“I think there is an awful lot of damage here, I just don’t know what the extent will be and when we will be able to determine it.”
There are still crops in the fields that were due to be harvested this week, says Cillié. This is his biggest concern at the moment. He also believes there will be extensive damage to farming infrastructure.
Heinie du Toit of Remhoogte Boerdery and chairperson of Agri Witzenberg farms 45km outside Ceres near Op-die-Berg. He says it is the most rain he has ever recorded in his 60 years of rainfall records.
“It is the wettest May in 60 years and it all came in 72 hours. It came very quickly and it was really stormy.”
Many dams that were between 10% and 20% full are now overflowing, says Du Toit.
It is still difficult to assess the damage, he says, because communication and electricity supply remain intermittent.
“The generators are running again like during loadshedding.”
The damage will only be fully calculated over time. Farmers in the area had already finished harvesting, but with the gale-force winds blowing, Du Toit believes that whatever was still on the orchards will most likely no longer be there.
“The damage is everywhere. It extends throughout the Witzenberg area to Wolseley, Breede River and Tulbagh,” he says.
Belblu, a blueberry farm outside Wolseley, was also flooded.
“The Witzenberg was flooded, we’ve never experienced it like this before,” says Du Toit. “With what we went through in February with the hail, emotions are running high here.”
Farms along the Breede River also suffered damage, with vineyards and orchards under water after the river overflowed.
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Gamtoos holds out amid flood
Half of vegetable farmer Leon de Koning of De Koning Broers farming in the Gamtoos Valley’s fields were under water during the flood.
“And everything that was under water is gone, there’s nothing to save.”
De Koning started producing vegetables again in the Gamtoos Valley eight months ago after planting vegetables at Mortimer in the Fish River Valley during the drought, when farmers in the valley had their irrigation water allocations cut by up to 80%.
“We were just starting to find our feet again and then the flood came and wiped everything out.” The farm supplies vegetables to Freshmark six days a week, as well as pre-processed vegetables to smaller stores. As vegetable farming is labour-intensive, he had to send half of his workers home temporarily. It will take him about three to four months to level the land, re-erect pivots and get production going again.
“But we are keeping our spirits up and planning ahead again,” says De Koning. “The encouraging messages we are getting from everywhere are a comfort to our hearts. There are definitely people who care.”
Storm causes chaos in Namaqualand
The severe weather conditions have also left deep scars in the Richtersveld in Namaqualand.
Cameron Bok, a young farmer, has already had to face major challenges within a few months of starting out as a farmer.
“We lost quite a few things and the veld hasn’t really grown yet,” he says. The biggest blow, however, has been to the animals. About 20 lambs froze to death. “It’s a big loss for us,” he says.
Bok, who has only been farming for a few months, was not prepared for this setback. He farms largely alone, with sporadic help from friends who are also in the industry.
Without formal support from farmers’ associations, he has had to rely on friends and farmers in the area to help him.
Although his farming enterprise is still getting back on its feet, he is not discouraged by the losses. “I’m trying, you can’t give up,” he says resolutely. “We are pushing through and seeing what happens after the rain. You want to build a life, even if it is difficult,” he adds.
The rain has worsened the fragile road networks and infrastructure in the Northern Cape.
“The roads are in a terrible state and with the rain it only gets worse,” he says.
In the Springbok area, the storm left roads waterlogged and inaccessible and also disrupted the community’s basic services. Anton Klaase says several houses had their roofs blown off in Steinkopf, while residents had to cope without electricity for almost two and a half days.
In addition, the severe weather weakened electricity supply, making communication in the region even more difficult. Some farmers were left without feed due to inaccessible roads.
“I have no damage such as animals dying. I also had feed which helped me a lot at the time,” says Lizan Klaase, who farms in the Springbok district.
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