Africa-Press – South-Africa. Learners living in Vygieskraal informal settlement in Belgravia, Cape Town, missed examinations on Wednesday because of widespread flooding this week.
School clothes and books were sopping wet, some no longer usable.
The widespread flooding has affected informal settlements, including Philippi, Strand, Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Masiphumelele and Khayelitsha.
In some homes, groceries for the month have been destroyed. People are also missing work.
In Kraaifontein, some people had to abandon their homes and move in with neighbours, when the heavy rains began last week. People worry their belongings will be stolen while left unguarded.
Families need dry clothes, blankets and warm food.
On Wednesday, GroundUp met Onikayo, a Grade 9 learner, scooping buckets of water out of the family home in Vygieskraal, which she shares with her two sisters and her mother.
“When I woke in the morning, the house was flooded, so I couldn’t go to school and I am writing exams. Exams are finishing tomorrow and I am not sure if I will be given a chance to write. My school shoes and uniform are wet,” she said.
Nocawe Mqulo has hardly slept the past few nights. Her home in Vygieskraal is flooded. Her paraffin stove won’t light, so she is using gas.
“I missed work today, so that I can deal with the situation. I will have to stay here with my four children. I don’t have a choice … So far we didn’t receive any help, our groceries got messed with floods. I have lived here for 16 years and experienced floods, but this time they are too heavy.”
Community leader Nosiphiwe Kori said the community needed help with blankets and “warm food, like soup”.
“No help has been received so far. We normally get help from the surrounding churches, but they haven’t responded yet … We have alerted the City of Cape Town,” said Kori.
Community leader Linda Phito, in Bloekombos, said: “It broke my heart to see that residents now take to Facebook to plead with others to give them a place to sleep.”
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