Eastern Cape storm chaos continues

Severe weathercontinued to lash swathes of the Eastern Cape on Thursday, flooding roads and cemeteries, cutting electricity to coastal communities, forcing the closure of schools and beaches and leaving emergency teams scrambling to assist affected residents. This week’s cut-off low system has brought days of heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous sea conditions, with the Buffalo City Metro (BCM), Amathole, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani, Sarah Baartman and Joe Gqabi among the affected districts. Near Makhanda, more than 30 grade 8 girls attending an outdoor education camp in the Howieson’s Poort area had to be moved to safety after rising streams threatened to cut them off.

Teachers and local farmers helped move the pupils after water levels rose rapidly during the storm. The girls were later accommodated nearby while waiting for the floodwaters to subside. The Eastern Cape education department announced that schools in the BCM district would be closed on Friday because of the adverse weather.

Spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said: “We have been communicating with districts across the province to take precautionary measures.” He said no schools in BCM had reported structural damage, but access to some schools had become dangerous because of flooded and damaged roads. “The problem is accessing some of the schools because some of the roads leading to schools are damaged,” he said. Schools will also remain closed in Nelson Mandela Bay as rains continue to hammer the metro, causing localised flooding.

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The Makana municipality activated an emergency joint operations committee response as flooding affected roads, low-lying areas and informal settlements. Spokesperson Anele Mjekula said officials were identifying affected households and assessing immediate interventions.

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