Heavy rain and strong winds to batter Cape Town.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The storm made landfall across Cape Town on Sunday and wreaked havoc across the city, resulting in one death.
On Monday, the storm battered large parts of the City of Cape Town, causing localised flooding, uprooted trees, roofs being blown off, and damage to businesses.
The City of Cape Town’s spokesperson for Disaster Risk Management, Charlotte Powell, said assessments are underway in informal settlements affected by adverse weather.
By late afternoon, city officials have completed assessments in six areas and confirmed 1,655 dwellings sustained impacts affecting over 5,600 persons.
A breakdown by areas is:
“We have activated our humanitarian relief partners to provide warm meals and blankets to those affected. Completed assessments will also be forwarded to Sassa and the National Department of Human Settlements. The Disaster Risk Management Centre is, in the interim, liaising with other relevant City Services to see what relief can be provided to residents. It is also important to note that assessments are continuing in many other areas, and this total will be updated as assessments are completed,” Powell said.
A tree has fell on a vehicle in Plattekloof.
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
The Table Mountain National Park has also announced the temporary closure of the park.
Temporary closures have been implemented at:
On Monday, teams were also responding to fallen trees and branches, flooding and water-related impacts, hazardous pathways and trail conditions as well as wildlife rescue and monitoring where required.
“Visitors are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and hiking within affected park areas and to exercise caution around rivers, streams, mountain paths, coastal sections, and low-lying areas as a number of fallen trees have been reported,” Table Mountain National Park management said.
The Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, also confirmed the closure of all schools in the Western Cape on Tuesday, May 12.
Western Cape under Level 8 warning for heavy rain, flooding and severe weather through Tuesday.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Media
“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (Saws), a decision has been taken to close all schools in the Western Cape on Tuesday, May 12, 2026,” Maynier said.
The weather service issued a Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall over the city, as well as the mountainous regions of Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Breede Valley, Witzenberg, and the western parts of Theewaterskloof.
These conditions are expected to persist until at least Tuesday, with heavy rain potentially leading to flooding of roads, bridges, as well as formal and informal settlements. It said mudslides and fast-flowing rivers could also pose a danger to life.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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