AfriForum’s neighborhood team in Knysna helped to remove trees. (Photo: AfriForum/Provided)
For the past two weeks, the civil rights organization AfriForum has undertaken relief and clean-up work in parts of the Garden Route after devastating storms caused great damage in the Southern Cape.
AfriForum’s branches on George and Knysna intervened together with local communities to assist residents who were affected by heavy flooding and strong winds.
With the help of AfriForum’s emergency fund and in collaboration with Cape Forum, the George branch distributed around R50 000 worth of food to around 1 000 children in the Blanco area.
According to AfriForum, these children were temporarily moved out of residences and places of safety elsewhere after the storms disrupted the electricity supply in the area.
“Projects like this are only made possible by donations from the community. Every contribution makes it possible for AfriForum to take on more projects that make a real difference in the lives of victims of disasters,” says Marthinus Erasmus, AfriForum’s district coordinator in the Southern Cape.
Meanwhile, AfriForum’s Knysna neighborhood team also provided help with clean-up work.
Volunteers removed fallen trees in Rexford and Simola in Knysna, as well as in Sedgefield, after roads were blocked by storm damage.
Later, at the request of the Garden Route district municipality, the neighborhood team also went to George to help remove trees in Geelhoutboom, Heatherpark, Heatherlands and Bodorp.
“AfriForum will continue to make communities resilient against the impact of devastating disasters,” says Erasmus.
(Photo: AfriForum/Provided)
‘Powerful example of community cooperation, self-organisation’
AfriForum’s neighborhood guards in the Matzikama area, which is part of the Vredendal branch, intervened without hesitation on 11 May when the Olifants River’s water levels started to rise due to the stormy weather. Neighborhood watch members quickly teamed up as an integrated team to remove residents from low-lying areas along the river.
The Olifants River has been a lifeline for agriculture on its banks for decades, but on this day extraordinary water rises quickly turned into a threat. Water levels rose dangerously and began to overflow roads, necessitating immediate safety action.
AfriForum’s neighborhood guards have closed important roads to protect motorists and heavy traffic from the danger and have repeatedly issued warnings to avoid certain routes. Despite this, some managers underestimated the risk. Shortly afterwards, a tank truck was swept away by floodwaters in a normally dry riverbed. The two occupants of the truck were rescued and brought to safety.
Meanwhile, the help of the Matzikama municipality’s disaster management department was also called. Cooperation in emergencies is of crucial importance and good relations with the local government are to everyone’s advantage, says Erasmus. Despite this, the AfriForum neighborhood guards and farm guards continued to work unabated, regardless of the fact that many members’ own farms and fields began to flood.
Days later, the Olifants River’s water levels continued to rise. Farm communities between Klawer and Vredendal, as well as the larger Vredendal community, were temporarily isolated from the outside world due to the floodwaters. The farm guard implemented logistical plans to get emergency supplies, including drinking water and basic food products, to stranded residents, while farm implements were used to divert floodwaters and limit further damage to infrastructure.
By Friday 15 May, conditions had begun to stabilize. No deaths were reported, which is a remarkable achievement given the scale of the disaster. However, the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure is extensive. The three main routes that provide access to Vredendal were also closed after bridges were washed away or seriously damaged and in some cases could only be opened to pedestrians.
According to Eric van Zyl, chairman of AfriForum’s Vredendal branch, this disaster has clearly shown how vital targeted training and regular practice of contingency plans are for any community. When planning ahead and each role player knows his responsibility, communities can act effectively and thus save lives, he says.
The events in the Matzikama area serve as a powerful example of community cooperation, self-organization and persistence in a time of dire need.