Relief efforts underway in Cape Town after heavy rains submerged homes

The Gift of the Givers Foundation says it has deployed teams to humanitarian hotspots across Cape Town after heavy rains left several informal settlements submerged.

Humanitarian aid organisations moved into affected areas as water levels began to subside, leaving many families in need of urgent assistance.

Multiple roads were also affected, with authorities working to respond to disruptions caused by rising water levels and poor drainage.

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The Gift of the Givers confirmed it was active in several informal settlements, including Lwandle, Mitchells Plain, Philippi, and Dunoon.

Spokesperson Ali Sablay said teams in Dunoon assisted nearly 1,000 residents with hot meals, blankets, and other necessities.

"Some of the families we visited have lost everything. Their food was contaminated, their appliances all washed out, their bedding and clothing soaking wet. Going from house to house we saw this as a common issue among residents where many of them have lost crucial appliances and their belongings," he said.

He added that teams would remain deployed until all affected residents were assisted.

"Our Gift of the Givers teams will be distributing an excess of 5,000 meals today, 2,000 blankets, detergent packs, hygiene packs and in the next few days we will be reaching out to other areas that we affected as well," said Sablay.