Roof damage at Sisters Incorporated in Cape Town after strong winds caused structural impact to the shelter, leaving parts of the facility exposed and in need of urgent repairs.
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As communities across Cape Town continue to recover from severe storms that battered parts of the province between Sunday night and Monday, organisations on the frontlines say the real impact is only beginning to emerge.
Days after heavy rainfall and strong winds caused flooding and structural damage in several areas, shelters and community organisations are reporting rising demand for support while dealing with damage to their own facilities.
Caroline Peters, executive director of the Callas Foundation in Bridgetown, said both their operations and the communities they serve have been significantly affected.
"Our organisation has experienced structural damages to our premises, with the roof leaking, which has meant electricity outages," she said.
"The communities and informal structures where many of our clients live have been severely affected. Some community kitchens and homes have experienced leaks, flooding, damp conditions and damage caused by the heavy winds and the rain."
She said these conditions have made it difficult to safely prepare and distribute meals at a time when demand is increasing.
"At this stage, it is still difficult to estimate the full cost of recovery as the impact continues to unfold across communities. However, the growing demand for food, electricity, water, transport and emergency support has placed enormous pressure on already stretched community organisations."
Peters said urgent support is needed, including food supplies, electricity assistance, blankets, hygiene items, cleaning materials and funding for operational costs.
Water-soaked roof at Philisa Abafazi Bethu’s facility in Retreat following heavy rains, with flooding and structural damage disrupting services for women and children at the shelter.
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In the Retreat area, Philisa Abafazi Bethu, which operates shelters for women and children, has also been hard hit following Monday’s storm.
Director Lucinda Evans said their emergency children’s safehouse suffered major structural damage.
"Three quarters of the wall collapsed with damage estimated at R80,000, and in addition R12,000 to replace the electric fencing," she said.
The organisation’s adult safehouse was also impacted.
"The big gate was damaged, the rail bent and the motor doesn’t work, with an estimated cost of R10,000," she said.
Even more devastating was the impact on their early childhood development centre.
"Our brand new centre that hosts 70 children was worse hit, with R150,000 damage. The ceiling collapsed and there is damage to classrooms and equipment."
She said the damage has not only disrupted services but also exposed the organisation to additional risks.
"Our security systems, protection walls and electric fences were severely affected, making us vulnerable," she said.
Debris and damaged materials lie scattered on the floor at Philisa Abafazi Bethu in Retreat after severe storms caused extensive structural damage to the shelter’s facilities.
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Damaged motorised gate at Philisa Abafazi Bethu in Retreat after strong winds bent rails and broke the mechanism, adding to mounting repair costs at the shelter.
Image: Supplied
Despite this, the shelter remains full.
"We have a full safehouse and we have people who need support, calling even though we are ourselves in a very vulnerable situation."
Across the province, shelters are reporting similar challenges.
A fallen tree lies across the roof at Sisters Incorporated in Cape Town after strong winds during Monday’s storm caused significant damage to the shelter’s property.
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Broken ceiling panels and debris scattered across the floor at Sisters Incorporated in Cape Town after storm damage caused structural collapse inside the shelter.
Image: Supplied
Delene Roberts, Western Cape representative for the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, said extreme weather often worsens existing vulnerabilities.
"These conditions often increase the need for emergency support at a time when shelters are already operating under pressure."
Roberts said there has been a noticeable increase in calls for assistance in the days following the storm.
"There has been an increase in calls for support in matters of destitution noted of late. It is highly likely that now that the storm has quietened, the aftermath of even more destitute matters will emerge."
Shelters have also had to respond to damage at other facilities.
"At Sisters Incorporated in Cape Town, Monday’s storm caused significant damage when a large tree broke on the property, affecting the cottage, childcare facility and electric fence," she said.
Western Cape Social Development MEC Jaco Londt confirmed that while some facilities were damaged, no evacuations were required at funded shelters.
"A cottage on the premises of one funded GBV shelter in the Southern Suburbs was damaged. However, no residents were evacuated," he said.
"Several DSD facilities also sustained damage, however, evacuations were not needed. At this stage, it is too soon to provide figures on the costs."
He added that some social services remain affected due to road closures, while relief efforts are ongoing.
"Support provided thus far includes blankets, meals, and hygiene packs," Londt said.
However, organisations say the need continues to grow as communities begin to confront the longer-term effects of the disaster.