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The South African
5 days ago
- Climate
- The South African
Flooding in low-lying areas in Cape Town [video]
The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate is currently monitoring the temporary flooding caused by the recent heavy rains. According to the City, heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding of low-lying areas, with some canals, vleis and retention ponds already filling to capacity. The storm, which made landfall in Cape Town yesterday, 25 June, is expected to persist until Sunday, 29 June, with maximum temperatures plunging below 10 degrees Celsius in certain high-lying areas and the possibility of snowfall and strong winds. Read the full version of the ' Heavy rainfall causes flooding of Cape Town's low-lying areas' article. 'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits. Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy,' the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas said. 'Downpours are expected to continue throughout the day and assessments on the ground are ongoing, as reports come in.' Quintas added. Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!
The South African
5 days ago
- Climate
- The South African
Heavy rainfall causes flooding of Cape Town's low-lying areas
The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate is currently monitoring the temporary flooding caused by the recent heavy rains. According to the City, heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding of low-lying areas, with some canals, vleis and retention ponds already filling to capacity. The storm, which made landfall in Cape Town yesterday, 25 June, is expected to persist until Sunday, 29 June, with maximum temperatures plunging below 10 degrees Celsius in certain high-lying areas and the possibility of snowfall and strong winds. Clean up is underway in Tableview. Image: City of Cape Town 'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits. Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy,' the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas said. Motorists have been advised to proceed with caution. Image: City of Cape Town. 'Downpours are expected to continue throughout the day and assessments on the ground are ongoing, as reports come in.' Quintas added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Climate
- IOL News
Widespread flooding, damaging waves hit Cape Town as cold front moves in
Widespread flooding of roadways occurred in Cape Town on Wednesday. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Media Numerous areas in Cape Town were hit with localised flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Monday. City officials confirmed that many roads were under water due to storm water systems being overwhelmed. Councillor Rob Quintas warned that roads may be closed at short notice as the heavy downpours continued, but he also pointed out that such flooding usually subsides within an hour of the rainfall slowing down. For that reason, residents are advised to wait before reporting incidents of flooding. 'The sheer volume of ongoing rainfall is causing vleis, rivers and canals to reach capacity. This causes water to back up in the stormwater system and onto our roads which then act as water conduits,' Quintas said. 'Low-lying areas, areas below steep mountainous terrain and areas near canals and other water bodies will experience localised flooding whilst rainfall remains heavy.' Traffic officers have been assigned to affected areas to help regulate traffic and divert motorists appropriately. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves has been issued by the SAWS. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Media Traffic officers are on duty in these areas to help regulate traffic and divert motorists appropriately. Motorists have been advised to exercise extreme caution and to be on the lookout for obstructions such as fallen tree branches and other debris. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging waves in the region from Wednesday evening, while Level 2 warnings were issued for damaging winds and disruptive rainfall, with the latter expected to persist until Thursday morning. What motorists should do when encountering flooded roads MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert advises motorists to avoid driving through pools of water, in which the water comes to the middle of the tyre or higher. It is best to avoid driving through fast-flowing water altogether as it is very hard to judge its depth, but if you find yourself caught in this situation unexpectedly, Herbert advises driving slowly and steadily through it while in first or second gear. If you find yourself caught in a full-blown flash flood and you can feel your car losing grip with the road, the best thing to do is to open the door to let some water in, which might help weigh the car down and allow the tyres to grip the road again, Herbert advises. However, if you are in danger of being swept away, it might be best to abandon the car, if it is possible to do this safely. IOL News
The South African
11-06-2025
- The South African
Cape Town's coolest street is now a cyclist's dream
Bree Street in Cape Town is known for its restaurants, boutiques, and urban buzz. Thanks to a recent upgrade to its existing cycling lane, the street now stands as a shining example of the City's vision for urban mobility. The City of Cape Town, in collaboration with local advocacy group Young Urbanists and the Central City Improvement District (CCID), has begun a pilot project to enhance cycling infrastructure along the busy route. While Bree Street already featured a designated cycle lane, the latest upgrade introduces protective elements like tactical bollards and kerbs, significantly improving safety and usability for cyclists. 'I have seen exciting progress being made with the upgrade of the Bree Street cycle lane between Shortmarket Street and Hans Strijdom Avenue,' said the City's Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas. 'These upgrades will definitely make the cycle lane along the much-loved and bustling Bree Street safer to use.' Tactical bollards and kerbs have been introduced to make the cycle lane safer. Image: CoCT The initiative is part of a broader vision by Young Urbanists to create a 'Safe Passage' – a connected, cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly network linking surrounding neighbourhoods to the city centre. The project is funded by Supplier Development Initiatives (SDI) and supported by various City Urban Mobility teams. 'Together the City, Young Urbanists and the CCID have made this progress possible,' Quintas added. 'This initiative is another way we are keeping Cape Town moving.' In related news, one of Cape Town's most scenic and photo-friendly routes has officially reopened to the public. Tafelberg Road – that winds along the foot of Table Mountain – leads to the iconic aerial cableway as well as to the starting points of several popular hiking trails. It has long been a favourite for tourists, photographers and Instagrammers seeking jaw-dropping and unparalleled views of the city. Now, thanks to extensive upgrades by the City of Cape Town, the route is not only more picturesque but also safer and more accessible. Read more on that story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
E-hailing drivers demand action over frozen licence approvals while impoundment fees soar
E-hailing drivers in Cape Town are considering legal action after the City froze licence approvals, leaving them vulnerable to having their vehicles impounded. E-hailing drivers are up in arms over the City of Cape Town freezing the approval of additional licences since the end of March, when the City claimed it had met its 'full allowed quota' of 3,354 licences. It had received more than 14,000 applications. The City and Western Cape Mobility Department, community and industry groups have been meeting to determine the next steps, with drivers complaining that they have to pay exorbitant impoundment fees for operating without licences. Looking forward, Councillor Rob Quintas, a member of the City's Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility, told Daily Maverick: 'The revised supply and demand for metered taxi services, which includes e-hailing, has been determined. 'The City will be presenting the revised metered taxi supply and demand numbers at a Special Metered Taxi Intermodal Planning Sub-Committee meeting on 17 June 2025, and will make this information available to the public.' Western Cape Mobility Department spokesperson Muneera Allie said: 'Once approval is given (to the Permit Regulatory Entity by the City for additional applicants), and a quota is determined… applications will be handled on a first-come-first-served basis.' E-hailing drivers are required to have an operating licence or risk their cars being impounded by the City, due to an amendment to the National Land Transport Act signed in June 2024. If there is a continued shortage of operating licences, the Western Cape E-Hailing Association (WCEA) is considering taking the Western Cape Permit Regulatory Entity and City of Cape Town to court to call for a pause on impoundments until the permitting system is reformed. A court ruled in favor of e-hailing drivers in a similar case in Pretoria. There, drivers proved it was 'impossible' to obtain a permit due to City backlogs. The association also calls on the regulatory entity to stop taking applications and application fees before new permits open up. Quintas clarified: 'Legally, the regulatory entity cannot refuse to accept applications even if the upper limit of the City's supply and demand numbers have been saturated already. Therefore, the operators apply at their own risk.' The 'trauma' of impoundment Drivers in Cape Town have been feeling the impact of impoundments as the City stalls in approving new operating licences. The impoundment fees are high. One driver, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being blocked from driving, said: 'The fees were R7,500, R2,500, and R1,000 — totalling R11,000 in one go. The car is financed, and once it was impounded, I couldn't make the instalment, couldn't pay for the business insurance, and couldn't raise money to get the car released. It's a trauma I can never forget.' According to the City of Cape Town's website: 'The impoundment fee is for the initial storage, hooking, salvaging and administration costs for the vehicle's impoundment… The fee increases for first, second and third offences.' In addition, drivers must pay for any outstanding fines before receiving their vehicle. Immediately, drivers feel the impact of impoundment. A driver said: 'I was impounded at 8.45am, 15km away from home, with no money on me. I had to walk home through unsafe areas. The police don't care how you get back — they just take your car… Where is the dignity?' In the long term, these fees can be devastating. According to the Deputy Secretary-General of the Western Cape E-hailing Association, Yusuf Dahir, a driver who works for 12 hours a day (the maximum allowed for Uber) earns approximately R1,000/day or R7,000/week. An estimated 80 to 90% of drivers do not own their vehicles. In general, R2,000-R3,000 of their weekly income goes to rent or weekly commission for the vehicle and R2,000 goes to petrol, leaving drivers with about R2,000 to take home at the end of the week. With this reality, the R10,000 impoundment fee is enormous. Drivers recognise that operating without licences is unlawful. Another driver said, 'All we ask is for the City of Cape Town to allow us to apply for e-hailing permits — and approve them. We want to feed our families through honest work.' But drivers are frustrated at the inability to acquire the necessary legal permits, and increasingly feel that the City is using them as a cash cow to collect impoundment fees. At the same time, Uber, Bolt, and other e-hailing services continue to allow new drivers to join the platforms, further allowing the cycle to continue. 'Equitable balance' According to the Mobility Department's Allie, the number of permits allotted in the quota is determined to 'ensure an equitable balance between the demand and supply of metered taxi and e-hailing services'. While applications may be accepted, the regulatory entity has informed applicants that operating licences may only be issued once approval for additional applications is received. According to Maxine Bezuidenhout, the spokesperson for the City of Cape Town's Traffic Services, 42 e-hailing vehicles were impounded in April 2025, and 45 had been impounded by 30 May. Drivers can request reimbursement for the impoundment fees from Uber, but still have to pay the fee up front. Dahir says it often takes days, if not weeks, for Uber to pay out. 'It is likely they will not reimburse.' Dahir also shared concerns about how Uber gathers funds for the impoundment fees. Dahir claimed the money did not come out of pocket for Uber. Instead, according to the drivers, Uber deducted additional fees — beyond its commission — from the driver before their cars were impounded, and used that money to reimburse them for the impoundment fees. For example, according to the drivers, there were additional, 'ever-increasing' fees for accepting rides to, and pick-ups from, airports and unexplained additional deductions at the end of trips. In short, they claimed that Uber was not really paying for the impoundment fees, but rather taking it from the driver in advance through these fees. Uber 'aware of challenges' When asked directly about how the reimbursement process worked, an Uber South Africa spokesperson said in a statement: 'Uber would like to refute the claims made by the drivers. We unequivocally maintain that these claims are unfounded.' In addition, the spokesperson said: 'Uber is aware of the challenges drivers are facing in Cape Town and remains committed to supporting them while engaging relevant stakeholders. Our goal is to ensure a sustainable and inclusive approach to mobility that supports both economic opportunity and safe, reliable transport options in Cape Town.' In response to an inquiry from Daily Maverick that Uber seems to be supporting drivers operating without licences by offering to pay their impoundment fees, Quintas responded: 'Paying someone else's fine or impoundment fee is not necessarily the illegal act.' Further, Quintas appeared to defend Uber and Bolt's practice of onboarding and recruiting new drivers without the possibility of permits being granted. He said: 'E-hailing platform providers have over the years marketed their services to operators and drivers without making an operating licence a compulsory requirement to operate on their platforms. Thus, they onboard operators/drivers and allow them to operate without having a valid operating licence… It seems to be a universal practice by all e-hailing platforms to onboard operators without operating licences.'
