At least 15 000 people affected by Western Cape storms, Gift of the Givers estimates | News24

The Gift of the Givers is providing humanitarian aid to more than 15 000 people after severe weather lashed the Western Cape over the weekend. (Supplied/Gift of the Givers)

• An estimated 15 000 people have been affected by storms in the Western Cape.
• Among those affected are residents of Cape Town, whose homes were damaged during strong winds.
• A series of cold fronts are expected to hit the region this week.

Humanitarian aid organisation, Gift of the Givers is providing aid to more than 15 000 people after severe weather lashed the Western Cape over the weekend.

Gift of the Givers founder, Imtiaz Sooliman, said the organisation was placed on standby on Friday after weather warnings were issued to the province.

“The impact has already been felt from the early hours of Friday morning as Ward 99 in Khayelitsha was ‘taken out’ by excessive gale force winds, simultaneously causing mayhem in six informal settlements, damaging 1 000 informal homes and displacing 4 000 residents in icy cold and pouring rain,” said Sooliman.

He said that the weekend’s weather was “only the beginning of several cold fronts expected over a five-day period”.

“Gift of the Givers teams have hit the ground hard, working round the clock, are totally soaked, as they respond to calls of desperation from Nomzamo, Lwandle, Mangaung, Kanana, Barcelona and New Rest in Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Mbekweni, Kosovo Philippi, Island, Phola Park, Klipfontein, Marikana, Kusisikhona, Winnie Madikizela, Siyangenya, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and Tafelsig,” he said.

READ | Authorities on high alert amid weather warnings in various provinces

He said warm meals are being provided to more than 15 000 people, as well as blankets, warm clothing, toiletries, and baby care packs.

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) said several cold fronts are expected to impact the weather in the Western Cape this week.

“At this stage, Ward 99 in Khayelitsha is our priority, as close to 1 000 structures were destroyed by strong winds [late] on Thursday, leaving close to 4 000 people without shelter for the current cold and wet conditions. Humanitarian aid including hot meals, blankets and other support is being offered,” confirmed Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said.

Eskom reported line faults affecting Tulbagh, Rawsonville and the Hex River Valley in the Boland area, and Belhar in the City of Cape Town. The faults have all been isolated, and teams are working to restore connectivity in all instances.

City of Cape Town Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said that the City has been “doing all it can” to assist residents affected by cold weather.

“Our multi-disciplinary Disaster Coordinating Team will remain activated until the worst of the weather, and the impacts, have been addressed.

“These weather episodes take a toll on some of our most vulnerable communities, and the City is fortunate to have numerous NGO partners who are ready to assist at a moment’s notice, with meals, food parcels, blankets, personal hygiene items and baby packs, among others, to help communities in need,” he said.