Categories: GovernmentNews

Western Cape Battling Nature’s Fury: Winds and Fires Strike

  • Severe weather, including strong winds, wreaked havoc across the Western Cape, causing significant damage to infrastructure such as the roofs of the Stellenbosch Mediclinic and resulting in disruptions to hospital operations.
  • The adverse weather conditions led to widespread destruction, including uprooted trees, damaged houses, and school closures in the Boland and the Helderberg Basin, prompting urgent response efforts from local authorities.
  • In the aftermath of the calamities, calls for support and assistance emerged, with initiatives such as donation drives from the City of Cape Town and humanitarian aid from organizations like Gift of the Givers aiming to provide relief to affected communities, including those impacted by a major shack fire in Stellenbosch.
Published by
Miriam Matoma

Management at Stellenbosch Mediclinic has reported significant damage to the facility’s roofs due to strong winds. This damage has had a notable impact on the functioning of surgical and paediatric wards, necessitating the transfer of three neonatal patients to another hospital.

The Western Cape experienced severe disruptions over the weekend as strong winds wreaked havoc across the region. Instances of uprooted trees and damaged houses and schools were reported. In response to the adverse weather conditions, the Education Department took precautionary measures by closing schools in the Boland and the Helderberg Basin following a warning issued by the South African Weather Service.

The effects of the disruptive winds were compounded by a substantial shack fire in Stellenbosch, resulting in displacement and hardship for many residents.

Amidst the aftermath of these incidents, there is a pressing need for support and assistance. The City of Cape Town has issued a call for public donations to aid those affected by the winds and fires in the metro and surrounding areas. The Disaster Risk Management Centre of the City has designated its office in Goodwood as a collection point for donations. Additionally, the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers has pledged assistance to residents of Lwandle and Nomzamo in Strand, particularly addressing issues arising from water inundation due to the overnight conditions.

Although the intensity of the winds has subsided in certain areas, emergency response teams remain vigilant and prepared to address any further developments.


The recent spell of severe weather in the Western Cape has left a trail of destruction, particularly impacting the Stellenbosch Mediclinic. Management there has confirmed that the facility’s roofs sustained significant damage due to the forceful winds. The repercussions of this damage were keenly felt in the surgical and paediatric wards, where operations were disrupted. As a result, the hospital had to make arrangements for the transfer of three neonatal patients to another medical facility.

Across the entire region, the strong winds unleashed chaos over the weekend. The landscape bore witness to the uprooting of trees and structural damage to homes and schools. Taking preemptive action, the Education Department made the decision to close schools in the Boland and the Helderberg Basin, a measure prompted by the inclement weather conditions flagged by the South African Weather Service.

The severity of the situation was further underscored by a significant shack fire in the vicinity of Stellenbosch. This unfortunate incident compounded the challenges faced by local residents, leaving many without shelter and basic necessities.

In the wake of these calamities, there has been a collective call to action to extend support to those affected. The City of Cape Town, in a bid to provide relief, has urged the public to contribute donations to assist the victims of the winds and fires that swept through the metro and its environs. The Disaster Risk Management Centre, serving as the focal point for these efforts, has designated its Goodwood office for donation collections. Additionally, Gift of the Givers, renowned for its humanitarian work, has stepped forward to offer aid to the communities of Lwandle and Nomzamo in Strand, particularly focusing on addressing the challenges arising from water damage caused by the adverse weather conditions.

Despite a lull in the intensity of the winds in certain areas, emergency response teams remain on high alert, ready to respond to any emergent needs or developments.


The Stellenbosch Mediclinic finds itself grappling with the aftermath of a turbulent bout of weather, which wreaked havoc on its infrastructure. Reports from management indicate that the facility’s roofs bore the brunt of the strong winds, leading to significant damage. This, in turn, disrupted operations in key departments such as surgery and paediatrics. The urgency of the situation prompted the relocation of three neonatal patients to an alternate medical center.

The impact of the weather wasn’t confined to the walls of the hospital alone. The entire Western Cape region bore witness to the destructive force of the winds over the weekend. Instances of uprooted trees and structural damage to residential buildings and educational institutions were reported across the area. Responding to the warnings issued by the South African Weather Service, the Education Department took proactive measures by closing schools in the Boland and the Helderberg Basin.

Adding to the woes was a sizable shack fire in the vicinity of Stellenbosch, exacerbating the challenges faced by local residents. This calamity left many without homes and in dire need of assistance.

In light of these circumstances, there has been a resounding call for support from various quarters. The City of Cape Town has urged citizens to lend a helping hand by providing donations to aid those affected by the recent spate of winds and fires in the metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The Disaster Risk Management Centre, spearheading relief efforts, has set up a collection point at its Goodwood office. Meanwhile, Gift of the Givers has pledged assistance to the communities of Lwandle and Nomzamo in Strand, focusing on alleviating the impact of water damage stemming from the adverse weather conditions.

While the ferocity of the winds has somewhat abated in certain areas, emergency response teams remain vigilant, prepared to address any emerging needs or challenges.

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Miriam Matoma

Miriam is a freelance writer, she covers economics and government news for Rateweb. You can contact her on: Email: miriam@rateweb.co.za Twitter: @MatomaMiriam