Heritage Day 2023 (24 September) will be remembered in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village as the day when at least 46 Households lost everything because of recorded rainfall in the Sir Lowry’s Pass district of 212mm in 12 hours.
The Western Cape’s wet winter conditions couldn’t absorb more water onto the already saturated ground, causing floods in different over the Cape Town Metro and Overstrand areas. Reports from farms in the Overberg describe mudslides and wetlands being ripped off the mountain, where now only bare rock lies. Canyons have been cleaved where roads once existed. A section of the railway line is hanging several meters above the ground.
The South African Weather Service issued a level 9 storm warning at 14h30 on Sunday, 24th September 2023 for several areas in the Western Cape.
During the night Community Members realised they needed to evacuate their homes as the water turned into mud flowing through their homes and got worse during the night. Outside they saw the water flowing over several areas and roads that cut them off from the rest of the Village. The smelly mud/water levels reaching roof height in the Uitkyk area. Some people had to be pulled out with ropes, elderly were carried on shoulders and through windows.
On higher ground more and more people affected by the land slightly gathered, most with only the clothes on their bodies when they fled. Unfortunately, the sad reality was that their abandoned homes became prey to vandalism and theft, and a lot lost more than just their household equipment. A few tried to go back to rescue as much as possible.
The community put aside their differences and started reaching out and helping where they sow dire stress on others.
At daybreak, the reality sunk into what extent the damage was. Houses were swept away, farmers reported erosion, bridges washed away, and nearby estates had to use rocky back access roads to be able to help the villages and bring necessary relief items to assist. Members of the Farm Watch helped the affected families to enter the Community Hall.
On the morning of the 25th of September, we as SLPCD started preparing freshly cooked meals (with real fresh meat) two and three times daily with Sponsors like #Checkers, #Ackermans, #.VRVirtual, a lot of individuals of #Ward84 and #Ward15 and even people from abroad made it possible.
Our office was turned into an instant Soup Kitchen and lasted for at least three weeks until the Village started returning to normal. Food was prepared and packed into containers which Angels with 4X4s took to those unable to cross the overflown river and roads.
For the months that followed SLPCD kept on supplying Rescue Food Supplies with the help of #RiseAgainstHunger into 2024. Dignity packs, blankets and children’s packs were distributed in the village.This is seen as a launch pad for a longer-term engagement with Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.
SLPCD with the help of #HealOurLand and #StrandFoam could supply mattresses to most families. In conjunction with #GiveOfTheGivers and personal donations hampers with clothing, and bed linen. furniture and personal goodies could be distributed to the adversely affected community members.
From the afternoon of the 25th, all the essential Disaster Management Departments of the City of Cape Town used Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station as a Joint Operations Centre where they started planning according to priority help necessary to re-instate ‘normality’ to Sir Lowry’s Pass.
The City of Cape Town took responsibility for clearing around the houses allowing residents access to their homes to do cleanup of their homes to rescue as much of their personal belongings as possible.
The generosity of the South African National Defence Force to ordinary people from the wider community cannot be underestimated. It was marvellous to witness.
Misinformation and rumour driven by political agendas, ignorance and mistrust were major challenges:
- The farmers upstream had opened their sluice gates and released the water that flooded homes. There are no sluice gates upstream.
- Illegal Occupation of Government Subsidized Houses when it was rumoured that the Community Hall would be closed and the homeless would have no shelter. Between 100-120 people take illegal occupation of more than sixty houses under construction in the village.
Unfortunately, a significant amount of damage was caused, which has proven detrimental to the communities themselves.
- 31 x External Doors had to be replaced.
- 61 x 3 lever locks had to be replaced.
- 27 x External doors had marks and graffiti that had to be removed and revarnished,
- 5 Five houses had graffiti on the external walls and had to be painted.
After the remaining Villagers in the Community were asked to vacate the Community Hall after Twenty-five days Sir Lowry’s Pass residents woke to road blockades across the main access roads. It should be noted that many families affected by the floods were not staying in the hall, having found alternative accommodation with friends and families.
The people from Uitkyk will be provided with alternative land and accommodation. The Land Invasion Department will prevent more people from moving into the area.
November 2023 the Western Cape Floods was officially declared a National Disaster. Damage to an extent of R441 million for provincial infrastructure and R154 million for municipal damages are estimated.