Gale force winds ripped the roofs off a section of the Schotsche Kloof flats in Bo-Kaap in the early hours of Monday morning, causing extensive water damage to the top floor units.
Four families from the so-called Queen Mary apartment block have been relocated and are receiving assistance from the body corporate as well as the City of Cape Town.
Rukshana Champion, chairperson of the Schotsche Kloof Body Corporate, says that 40 people are directly affected.
“We notified the City (via councillor Francine Higham) who assisted by visiting the area and removing the debris. We are working with the insurance to get the roof replaced. We have provided options in term of accommodation for those without,” said Ms Champion.
She said they welcome donations of food, clothing, furniture and appliances, and that the repairs to the roof had started.
“The roof that blew off has also caused considerable damage to the fencing around the multi-sports facility on Tana Baru Street, and there has been some damage to the property at Schotsche Kloof Primary school,” said Francine Higham, the councillor for Ward 77.
Ms Higham said she and Sub-council 16 manager Girshwin Fouldien had met with the body corporate of the Schotsche Kloof flats, who are assisting the affected residents.
“We will follow up with our Recreation and Parks officials, as well as Urban Waste Management to address the repairs and cleaning of debris on City property,” she said.
MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning, Anton Bredell applauded the first responders. “Our emergency teams have done an outstanding job in saving lives, which is always our first priority in situations such as these. The hard work of our teams over a number of years in preparing for emergencies such as these has also been demonstrated in how we have responded.”
