Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has signed a major incident declaration that allows for the unlocking of additional resources and relief measures to deal with the impact of the recent severe storm.
Hill-Lewis said the city is working around the clock to assist communities impacted by the natural disaster which wreaked havoc in the Western Cape over the weekend.
The severe weather has resulted in significant damage due to flooding, mudslides, rockfalls, fallen trees, and damage to buildings and infrastructure, as well as the disruption of services.
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Giving an update on the City of Cape Town’s disaster response, Hill-Lewis indicated that at least eight fatalities in the city have been linked to the severe weather impact.
He said while many areas were significantly affected, the Helderberg area – including Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Sandvlei Macassar, Strand, Somerset-West and Gordon’s Bay – was particularly badly affected, with extensive mudslides affecting Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.
The mayor said significant work is under way to assist with recovery, to offer humanitarian relief, and to reconstruct and rehabilitate the affected areas.
Hill-Lewis also expressed his appreciation to the city officials who worked throughout the weekend and continue to support the affected residents.
