Residents of Khayelitsha and Mfuleni face displacement due to relentless rain

Persistent heavy rain across the Cape Metro has led to flooding, road closures, road collapses, school absences, and several accidents.

Informal settlements and low-lying areas have been severely affected.

In Khayelitsha and Mfuleni, areas such as Covid, Taiwan, Qanduqandu, and Gush’indoda have experienced significant rainfall since Wednesday, June 25, resulting in damage and the loss of belongings.

Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama said hundreds of people had been displaced in his ward.

He said residents from Taiwan, one of the oldest informal settlements, were among those affected. “We had to take people to Fulani Hall in the heart of Site C. Hundreds were displaced. About 150 people slept in the Fulani community hall, while some went to sleep over with their relatives and friends. From today (Thursday), we are expecting more people to be affected by the persisting rain,” he said.

When Vukani visited the Taiwan informal settlement, some residents were vacating their homes and had to move to the community hall.

Resident Sinoxolo Ndlakuse and her child were forced to leave their shack and join others in the community hall.

“I have no choice but to go. There is no way that we will not be able to sleep here. The beds are wet. Just everything is wet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Grade 12 pupil Mbali Ludwane was worried about her school work. She had to be absent from school because all her belongings and those of her two siblings were wet.

“We are three orphans and have nowhere to run to. We are now worried about the little that we have because most of it is damaged by the rain. We will have to go and sleep in the hall too,” she said.

Another concerned resident Lihle Qubanisi said that in her 17 years living in Taiwan, this was the worst rain ever.

“I might be wrong, but this is the worst rain that has affected me and my children like this. I am worried about my three children now and my belongings,” she said.

Those who are currently housed in community halls said they were experiencing discomfort due to a lack of privacy.

However, they said, they were grateful for the support received from the local councillor and other community members.

Their main concern remained the belongings they had to leave behind in Taiwan. 

Community activist Mthunzi Qagana appealed to the government to build proper houses for the people of all the informal settlements. 

“You cannot have people living like this. For more than 35 years, people have been living in squalor. These people must be removed from these places of disaster. The DA-led municipality must do a good thing by building proper houses for them,” he said.

Disaster management response teams were continuing mopping-up operations in some areas of Khayelitsha and Mfuleni. The weather service had indicated that the heavy rain would persist until Saturday. The South African Weather Service has forecast more rain until Sunday, with informal settlements expected to continue facing heavy rainfall and flooding.