Cape Town flooding: Gift of the Givers teams step in with relief aid

Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers teams will remain in flood-affected Cape Town communities until all residents in need have been assisted.

As water levels begin to subside after heavy rains, the organisation has intensified relief efforts in some of the hardest-hit informal settlements, including Lwandle, Mitchells Plain, Philippi and Du Noon.

Several settlements were submerged during weekend downpours.

Spokesperson Ali Sablay said teams in Du Noon alone have already helped nearly 1,000 residents.

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“We were asked to assist with hot meals as a matter of urgency, as food contamination has not made it possible for them to feed their families. Some of them are on chronic medication, so Gift of the Givers teams have stepped in."

Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town’s disaster operations centre has received additional reports of flooding in formal homes in areas such as Ocean View and Bellville South.

"Staff have also been activated to conduct further assessments in informal settlements like Gugulethu, Philippi, Khayelitsha Crossroads and Du Noon. As assessments are completed, DRMC [Disaster Risk Management Centre] will activate the necessary relief and assistance required," said spokesperson Sonia Lategan.