Dozens of Hout Bay homes severely damaged in Cape storm
Some shacks that were rebuilt after the fires earlier this year blew down
By Natalie Pertsovsky and Lilly Wimberly
7 June 2017 Olga Kotswana and Sam Dube.
Olga Kotswana and her husband Sam Dube stand where their shack
used to be in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay’s informal settlement. “I was
sleeping when it fell,” said Kotswana. Their home was destroyed at about
10:30pm last night during the storm. “We’ve got nothing. No blanket. No
food. Nothing.” Their shack was one of the temporary ones provided by
the City of Cape Town after fires ravaged the township in March.
Neliswa Mbanga stands in front of her home, number 36, which was
damaged after the high winds of the storm tipped the house to the side.
Mbanga is also living in one of the temporary shacks provided by the
City following the March fires.
Residents climb through the rubble made by a tree downed by the wind.
Abraham Shatimwene, Samuel Hiavali, and Paulis Shatimwene in front of
their home, which was badly damaged by Tuesday night’s storm. They are
in the process of replacing their roof and one side of their shack in
preparation for more winds throughout the week.
Lovers Magwala, a resident, explained that winds had tipped the
community’s toilets. He said that residents were now using the hill as a
bathroom.
Residents living in shacks provided by the City prepare for more high
winds as the storm continues by placing tires, branches and bricks on
the roofs of their homes.
Portia Mawilk, who supports her mother, child, and two sisters had
her newly built shack blown away last night and the zinc materials
stolen. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now.” Her previous home was
destroyed in the March fire. She is currently staying with a neighbour.
Top two photos by Natalie Pertsovsky. Remaining photos by Lilly Wimberly.
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