BAVIAANSKLOOF NEWS - The Baviaanskloof communities have been severely impacted by the exceptionally heavy rainfall and resulting flooding between 5 and 7 May.
A total of 150mm of rain was measured at Studtispoort on Thursday 7 May, after which the downpour in the Baviaanskloof continued.
Homes have been damaged, irrigation systems and fencing destroyed, and bridges and roads - including all access routes - completely washed away.
With all access routes destroyed, the Baviaanskloof was entirely cut off from the outside world, leaving more than 200 affected families in urgent need of food, supplies, healthcare and recovery support.
Gift of the Givers responded immediately to this humanitarian crisis, while the municipality provided significant support to the ongoing relief efforts under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Extraordinary measures
On Sunday 10 May, DrImtiaz Sooliman, founder and chairperson of Gift of the Givers, confirmed that there were no accessible roads or bridges in the Baviaanskloof following the floods and that infrastructure had been extensively damaged.
He further stated that boats were unable to move through the affected areas and that helicopters were unable to fly due to strong winds.
By Monday 11 May, the emergency response teams had succeeded in distributing food parcels to 31 families in the kloof.
They were, however, unable to proceed beyond Verlorenrivier, as the greater part of the kloof was isolated and inaccessible.
At that stage, attempts were being made to airlift food parcels to affected families, but rescue helicopters were reportedly forced to turn back because of unsafe flying conditions.
With no safe access possible by road, boat or air, Gift of the Givers teams, several 4x4 volunteers from Gqeberha and local farmers determined to assist their communities began exploring extraordinary measures to reach isolated families.
By the end of Wednesday 13 May, they had managed to distribute food parcels to 200 families as far as Beacosnek and reached families between Studtispoort and Zandvlakte the following day.
Repairing and building
According to the latest reports, the most heavily damaged part of the Baviaanskloof is Studtispoort where low-water bridges and portions of road were completely washed away.
In numerous areas, the force of the floodwaters altered the course of the river entirely, carving new routes and leaving existing roads and crossings severely damaged.
Despite the challenging conditions, locals have worked tirelessly to establish temporary detours and improve river crossings to allow limited emergency access into affected areas.
Heavy earthmoving machinery have also started repair operations on damaged portions of road as far as Speekhout, but extensive reconstruction work is still required from Speekhout eastwards towards Studtis, where new roads, river crossings and bridges will have to be constructed along the river’s newly formed channels.
At present, ordinary vehicle access remains possible only up to the Makkedat Caves area, while travel beyond that point is largely limited to residents and emergency 4x4 vehicles.
River conditions also remain unpredictable following further rainfall, and members of the public are urged not to enter the Baviaanskloof unless arrangements have been made directly with residents and they are able to contribute to ongoing recovery operations.
Backabuddy
A BackaBuddy campaign was launched to raise funds to restore damaged roads and access routes, allowing humanitarian aid, emergency services and residents to safely move in and out of the valley.
In addition, funding will support the provision of food, basic necessities and emergency relief to households left isolated by the floods, as well as the clean-up and repair of homes flooded or damaged during the disaster.
This campaign can be supported here.
Emergency support will be implemented by the Baviaanskloof Bewarea NPC, a registered public benefit organisation based in the Baviaanskloof.
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