When heavy rain began to pound Cape Town on the night of April 7, few suspected that by morning, thousands would be without homes, electricity, or access to basic necessities. Among them was 34-year-old Sipho Mbele, a father of two from Delft. “Water rushed into the house like a river. My kids were crying. I put them on my shoulders and waded through waist-deep water to reach the street,” he recalls.
For many, the flood is more than an inconvenience — it’s a total upheaval of life. Families lost everything in minutes: furniture, food, school books, medications, birth certificates. Some lost even more.
Read Also:Rising Temperatures Threatening Kigezi Uganda Community
Over 70 neighborhoods were affected by the flooding, forcing thousands into emergency shelters. Community halls, churches, and schools were converted into makeshift homes overnight. Mothers nursed babies in crowded rooms. Volunteers handed out soup and blankets. Yet, resources are stretched.
“There are too many people here. We sleep on floors. There is no privacy,” said Zanele, a mother of three sheltering in Mitchell’s Plain. “But at least we are safe.”
Power Outages and Safety Risks
The floods knocked out power across much of Cape Town. Submerged substations caused blackouts in areas like Overberg and Boland. Without electricity, food spoils. Without light, crime spikes. Elderly residents with medical needs were particularly hard hit.
Emergency services deployed rescue boats to reach those stranded in flooded homes. In some areas, residents used kitchen tables as rafts. Others climbed onto rooftops. The city’s disaster teams worked around the clock, but conditions were treacherous.
Economic Impact
Beyond the physical destruction lies the economic toll. Small businesses, especially in industrial areas like Tokai, reported severe damage to stock and equipment. Day laborers missed work. Public transport was shut down.
Schools remained closed in several regions, setting back academic calendars for thousands of learners.
The Emotional Trauma
Children are traumatized. Parents feel helpless. The fear that another storm may come lingers in every mind.
“I don’t sleep at night now,” Sipho admits. “Every noise sounds like more rain.”
Despite the chaos, South Africans showed resilience. Churches and civic groups collected food and blankets. NGOs set up mobile clinics. Volunteers helped clear debris and rebuild.
Read Also: Mount Kenya Glacier’s Decline Threatening Water Security
As the water recedes, the city is left to rebuild homes, restore power, and provide comfort to those who have lost so much. But the deeper work must go on: creating safer, fairer, and more prepared communities for the storms that will surely come again.
