Lwandle families receive vital food aid as they rebuild after devastating floods

At least 250 flood-affected families in Lwandle informal settlement in Strand received food parcels and humanitarian relief items as residents continue rebuilding their lives after devastating floods hit parts of the Western Cape earlier this year.

Gift of the Givers teams were on the ground in Lwandle on Thursday, distributing food parcels, hygiene packs, and other relief items to families who were affected by the heavy rains and flooding during May and June.

The humanitarian organisation said its teams have continued supporting thousands of residents across the province, with many families still trying to recover after floodwaters damaged homes, destroyed belongings, and left residents without necessities.

Lwandle was among the informal settlements affected during the winter storms, with residents saying floodwaters swept through their homes, damaged structures, destroyed food, clothing, bedding, and personal belongings.

Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the organisation’s teams remained active in several flood-affected communities.

“Gift of the Givers teams remain on the ground assisting thousands of families affected by the recent floods in the Western Cape. As we know, close to 140,000 people have been affected,” Sablay said.

“Our teams are in Lwandle, where hundreds of families have been affected, assisting with food and personal hygiene care packs.”

Sablay said many residents were still trying to rebuild their lives after losing almost everything in the floods.

“Our teams have been in various parts of the Western Cape, and many people are still trying to rebuild their lives. Many of them lost everything. Their homes, belongings, cars, and so they are still in need of support.” 

He said learners from Rondebosch Boys’ High School had also joined the relief effort as part of their community service, helping to support families during the distribution.

Ward 86 Councillor Xolani Diniso said the damage caused by the floods remained visible in Lwandle, where some residents were still living in unsafe and difficult conditions.

“The impact of the floods on the hundreds of people who were affected by them in Lwandle informal settlement is still visible. The floodwaters were destructive. They broke through doors, broke walls and infrastructure, seeped in through walls and doors, and destroyed everything.”

Diniso said some families were still sleeping outside, in temporary shelters, or in the streets because their homes had not been repaired.

“Houses had roofs that were flying off at the time, and people are still sleeping outside in temporary shelters or in the streets because their houses are still without roofs. They still have nothing, no access to food and personal care,” he said.

He criticised the City of Cape Town’s response, saying more should have been done to provide emergency shelter and relief to affected residents.

“The city has not opened up any halls or buildings for the people of Lwandle informal settlement to sleep in and find shelter during this time,” Diniso said.

“The city hasn’t done anything that I can say has helped support relief and aid for the hundreds of affected families here in Lwandle.”

Diniso said residents were grateful for the support from Gift of the Givers, saying the organisation had stepped in at a time when many families had very little.

“We are super happy with the presence of Gift of the Givers because without them, the residents of this informal settlement would have nothing,” he said.

“The organisation came and provided everything, food, blankets, clothes, and hygiene items like soaps and toothbrushes that are needed by these people and young people here. We are grateful for them and the help they have brought to the hundreds of families here.”

Diniso said the repeated flooding in Lwandle showed the need for stronger winter preparation in vulnerable informal settlements.

“What we need in Lwandle is for the city to prepare better and adequately for winter and for floods,” he said.

“The winter preparation programme that the city has is extremely important, and because Lwandle is an informal settlement that is prone to floods, we need better preparedness. We need the drains in the area to be unblocked regularly and cleaned so that water can flow through. Similarly with the canals, we need them to also be cleared ahead of the heavy rainfall during the wintertime.”

The City of Cape Town had not responded to questions by the time of publication.

[email protected]