Over 50 Households Displaced In Riverlands, Chatsworth After Dam Walls Collapse

Over 50 households have been displaced after the Riverlands Dam walls collapsed on Thursday morning, causing major damage in Chatsworth and Riverlands, near Malmesbury, north of Cape Town.

Western Cape MEC Anton Bredell said that Swartland Fire and Rescue and Law Enforcement Services were able to rescue 15 people.

"Injured persons have been assessed for near-drowning and transported to nearby hospitals for observation and further treatment," Bredell said, IOL reported.

Earlier reports mentioned two missing people but Bredell confirmed that the Swartland Municipality has not reported any fatalities or missing persons.

"Initial reports indicate extensive damage to property and infrastructure. While the Swartland Municipality has reported no injuries or missing persons at this time, efforts are ongoing to reach areas that were initially inaccessible due to the flooding," he said.

Bredell said that engineers from the Department of Local Government are on-site assessing the damage to infrastructure, noting that various groups are working to provide humanitarian aid.

He stated that the main priority is ensuring all affected people have access to clean water and basic services throughout the weekend. Bredell also mentioned that engineers are inspecting a third dam, located upstream from the two collapsed dams, to check its safety.

"We urge residents to stay safe and remain vigilant, as the South African Weather Service has predicted more rainfall for the coming weekend. We ask that community members remain calm and follow the instructions of emergency officials on the ground," he added.

Last month, the Western Cape experienced severe weather including heavy rain and strong winds. This led to widespread flooding, damage to infrastructure, homes being washed away and major power outages throughout the province.

The City of Cape Town noted that from July 9 to July 19, its electricity teams responded to nearly 19,000 storm-related issues.

Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi said last month that the government is actively working to relocate families impacted by severe floods in the Western Cape, adding that thousands of people in the province have lost their homes due to the flooding and are now without shelter.

Whereas in June, Buffalo City Metro in the Eastern Cape witnessed severe flooding, leaving around 1,300 people displaced.