By Mapaballo Borotho
- The government has declared a national disaster as severe storms continue to batter Cape Town and several other provinces.
- Heavy rain, flooding and strong winds have disrupted flights, damaged infrastructure and forced schools in the Western Cape to close.
- Authorities are continuing rescue and clean-up operations as dangerous weather conditions persist across affected regions.
The government has declared the severe storms affecting the Mother City, Cape Town, a national disaster.
Cape Town is not the only region currently battling severe weather conditions.
Other provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Free State and Mpumalanga, have also been affected by dangerously wet and windy conditions, prompting the government to extend the national disaster declaration to those provinces as well.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that heavy rain and strong winds are expected to persist in parts of the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has announced that all schools in the province will be closed on Tuesday, 12 May.
Authorities have been urged to implement a multi-sectoral plan focused on prevention, relief and rehabilitation as rescue and clean-up operations continue in flood-hit areas dealing with road closures, damaged infrastructure and power outages.
Flights affected at Western Cape airports
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has confirmed that severe weather conditions are disrupting flight schedules at both Cape Town International Airport and George Airport.
While ACSA said both airports remain “open and operational,” the adverse weather has resulted in multiple delays, diversions and cancellations.
The company said it is closely monitoring the situation as nearby airports work to accommodate aircraft unable to land in the storm-hit regions.
“Passengers are encouraged to consult the ACSA Mobile App or their respective airlines for the latest flight information,” said ACSA’s spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe.
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