Relief efforts under way after three Western Cape dams collapse

Humanitarian relief efforts and mop-up operations continue after three dams breached and resulted in severe flooding in parts of Riverlands, outside Malmesbury, last week.

The Swartland Municipality said the flood caused severe property and infrastructure damage to the affected area as well as to the water network.

“Supply has been destroyed, leaving the town without potable water.

Swartland Municipality, with the support of Drakenstein Municipality and the District Municipality will supply water to the community on a temporary basis until the water network has been repaired.”

Fourteen people were transported to Swartland Hospital with minor injuries or hypothermia. In all, 444 people received humanitarian support, and 224 people were to be housed at a local church and the Thusong Centre.

“Some families were also allowed to return to their homes,” the municipality said.

Following investigations it was discovered that the third dam in a series of four dams initiated the breach, “resulting in the first and second dams being overwhelmed, resulting in the extensive and devastating flood affecting Riverlands”.

“The fourth dam is currently stable and is continuously monitored. Efforts to partially drain this dam, as a precautionary measure, will commence later today.

“The heavy rain in the area called for decisive decision-making to mitigate further risks in the area. Because of various agricultural activities in the Riverlands area, this town is surrounded by a series of retention dams providing water to smallholdings in the area.

“Due to the above-average rainfall, dam levels in the area increased and Swartland Municipality, in consultation with experts from the City of Cape Town, made arrangements to reduce the water level of the fourth dam on the Dassenberg property by creating a spillway to release water from this dam. This was done successfully late on Friday afternoon.”

Community members, humanitarian relief agencies and donors were also on the ground to support those affected by donating food, blankets and dry clothes.

Gift of the Givers said while bottled water provided initial relief, it was not a sustainable solution as water tankers would be most effective.

“Gift of the Givers is swiftly deploying two Isuzu-sponsored water tankers from Adelaide to the affected area.

Isuzu will further support the effort by providing two additional tankers from their Gqeberha plant on Tuesday,” the organisation said on Sunday.

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed at the weekend that the Emergency Housing Team had been dispatched to intervene urgently and assist displaced families whose homes had been flooded.

“We have directed the team to ensure that the affected households are assisted with emergency accommodation, particularly the vulnerable groups. We commend NGOs that are already on the ground to assist victims,” said Kubayi.

She said their ongoing assessment would inform interventions required for all the affected households.

“Families whose homes were affected by Thursday’s disaster in Riverlands are currently being provided with shelter at Riverlands Community Bakery Centre and Riverlands Church.

The team from Human Settlements has compiled a list of approximately 100 displaced people who have expressed their reluctance to be moved to safer temporary accommodation, citing a need to take care of their livestock,” the department said.

The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) was set to assess the structural integrity of damaged properties.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and a senior delegation also visited the town of Riverlands on Sunday.

“The department has since granted permission to the City of Cape Town to construct an emergency spillway on the fourth dam to route the flood and lower the risk of its failure. All the four dams are not owned by the department.

“However, it has since sent engineers on the ground to assist with normalising of the area,” the department said.