Cape Town – Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis intends to start legal proceedings to evict “illegal occupants” who have constructed homes on municipal infrastructure.
He said that these structures obstruct drains and intensify flooding issues.
The Western Cape has experienced significant flooding due to heavy rains, especially in Dunoon, where blocked stormwater systems have worsened the situation.
Hill-Lewis said that these informal structures hindered essential maintenance and advocated for utilising the summer months to safeguard infrastructure and mitigate future flooding risks.
“This is an important time to make a point about illegal occupation, especially over city infrastructure. I’m here in Dunoon where some of the roads are completely flooded and these poor residents have had to leave their homes because the flooding is so bad.
Our teams are hard at work in Dunoon clearing flooded areas, stormwater pipes and drains wherever possible 👷♀️🔥
✅ We’ve been proactive! Over 220km of sewer lines have been jetted and stormwater canals cleared in preparation for these storms.
❌ It’s important to remember that… pic.twitter.com/SJSs7D0Svo
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) July 9, 2024
“Our teams are standing by here but cannot access the drains and the pipes that they need to clean out because there are a number of informal, illegal structures [shacks] that have been built on our city infrastructure causing this flooding,” he said.
He added: “It is important for us during our summer months and at all times to protect city infrastructure and make sure it is not illegally occupied. We will have to go through a lengthy court process to remove those structures so that by this time next winter this particular road can be clear of flooding.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
