City residents battle cold and rain as a heavy storm hits Cape Town
By Ashraf Hendricks and Vincent Lali
14 June 2022
The Kuilsriver gushes along Covid informal settlement in Mfuleni, Cape Town, flooding the bordering houses. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Cape Town has been hit a by a huge storm. Our journalists photographed its impact in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.
Video: Ashraf Hendricks
People try to secure the roofs of their shacks in Covid informal settlement in Mfuleni. They are watched by a group of mothers and children. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
The flooded narrow paths between shacks are a hazard for people trying to navigate their way around Covid informal settlement.
As you walk through this township you notice a strong smell of fuel burning as people try to keep warm. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
In Khayelitsha, cars turned into boats. Photo: Vincent Lali
This is Siphelele Xabendlini, almost knee-deep in water, as he crosses Japhta Masemola Road in Makhaza. “I cross the road many times a day to collect water and get basic necessities from the shops. We have no tap in my area,” he said. Photo: Vincent Lali
Using spades and picks, Nolitha Lewu, Lindani Mafahla and Mzwandile Jacobs laboured to clear away sand covering a storm water drain on Japhta Masemola Road. Photo: Vincent Lali
Lindamandla Mabutyana and Thozama Dyum, who assisted the above trio to unblock the storm water drain, lit a small fire to keep warm while standing in the rain. Photo: Vincent Lali
Ntombekhaya Sizwenya stands in her flooded shack in Khayelitsha. She says this happens “every time” there are heavy rains. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
This road in Khayelitsha is flooded because of a blocked drain. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Wearing damp clothes, community leader Vumile Madikane sits next to his brazier to keep warm inside his home at Ethembeni informal settlement. Photo: Vincent Lali