The cold fronts that occur during the winter months place additional stress on those members of the local community who are already in a vulnerable position.
This was according to Etienne Basson, a member of the Idas Valley Community Trails, a local non-profit organisation (NPO).
“Kayamandi is the most affected community in terms of heavy rainfall in the area. Cloetesville is not as bad as Kayamandi,” said Msindisi Sogayise, who works at the Legacy Centre in Kayamandi.
Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in the Kayamandi community on 13 July, according to Asiphe Makhumalo, a Kayamandi resident, and owner of Just Sip Mo Plumbing.
Kayamandi has an estimated population of 26 176 residents, according to the Stellenbosch Municipality website.
Some members of the Kayamandi community have installed underlying pipes in order to divert the flowing water that results from heavy rainfall, explained Asiphe Makhumalo, a Kayamandi resident and owner of Just Sip Mo Plumbing services. This prevents the foundations of their homes from being damaged, she added.
“There are basement floods, which are one of the significant issues that the people of Kayamandi experience in times of heavy rains,” said Makhumalo.
The long-standing hostels at emaHolweni – an area situated across from the Kayamandi taxi rank – are particularly susceptible to flooding when there is heavy rainfall, said Makhumalo.
“The flooding causes damage to the furniture in these homes, as well as having their electronic appliances affected,” said Makhumalo.
The Stellenbosch region has experienced an increase in rainfall in 2021 relative to 2020, according to the World Weather Online website. The total rainfall recorded in Stellenbosch in the year 2020 was 736.4 mm. Currently, the total rainfall in Stellenbosch for 2021, recorded until the end of July, sits at 757.5 mm. The highest monthly rainfall during 2020 was in July, with 176.2 mm of rainfall. The total rainfall recorded for July of this year was 212 mm. The month with the highest rainfall so far in 2021 is May, with 293.6 mm of rain. GRAPH: Sourced/World Weather Online
People in Kayamandi often have to leave their homes and move into the community halls when it floods, said Thulani Mapoyi, a managing member of Inkuthazo Yesizwe Youth Organisation, a local NPO. When their homes are wet, they are unable to live in them, he said.
Members of Inkuthazo Yesizwe Youth Organisation, a local non-profit organisation, assisted members of the Kayamandi community by providing them with materials, such as fabric membrane, to fix roof leakages. This prevents water damage to their homes. PHOTO: Instagram/@inkhutazo.yesizwe
“This is very sad and very frustrating at the same time. You find families, in the early hours of the morning, sweeping out floods of rain […] as a means to drain out the flooding inside their homes,” said Makhumalo.
Kayamandi has poor drainage systems that increase the impact of flooding, claimed Makhumalo. The drains in the community are poorly maintained, and as such, often become blocked, she added.
Asiphe Makhumalo – a Kayamandi resident, and owner of Just Sip Mo plumbing, which services Stellenbosch and the surrounding areas – explained how the poor drainage systems in Kayamandi add to the flooding experienced by community members during periods of heavy rainfall.
“Our teams continuously service all areas of the municipality to clear street drains. In the run-up to the wetter winter months, this campaign intensifies significantly across all areas. Klapmuts to Franschhoek, Cloetesville to Jamestown, Pniel to Kayamandi,” said Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality. He explained, however, that drains on private properties are the responsibility of private owners.
“The municipality is responsible for clearing stormwater drains,” he added.
Residents who are concerned about blocked drains are encouraged to contact the municipal teams via their WhatsApp service line or on their contact numbers, explained Stuart Grobbelaar, Stellenbosch Municipality spokesperson. PHOTO: Supplied/Stuart Grobbelaar
Lending a helping hand
Soup drives are held by the Idas Valley Community Trails NPO during the winter months as they “can make a big difference in vulnerable communities”, explained Basson.
“A large number of households in our communities do not have the financial means to provide at least one hot and healthy meal a day to their families,” said Basson.
“Food insecurity has been highlighted during the pandemic, with vulnerable communities being negatively affected,” said Etienne Basson, a member of the Idas Valley Community Trails non-profit organisation, which recently held a soup drive for the community members in Idas Valley. PHOTO: Instagram/@idasvalleycommuntytrails