 | Drakenstein Municipality’s disaster management teams work tirelessly to keep communities safe
13 May 2026 | Press Releases |
Drakenstein Municipality's emergency services and disaster management teams remain on high alert and continue to respond to incidents arising from the heavy rainfall and strong winds experienced in the area from Sunday and throughout Tuesday. During this period, Paarl received 188 mm of rainfall and Wellington 159 mm, with significant rainfall also recorded in key catchment areas. Residents are urged to stay away from rivers and low-lying waterways.
Drakenstein Municipality's Roads, Stormwater and Traffic Engineering division has been attending to and opening several blockages in the stormwater system.
The Municipality's Disaster Management Plan remains fully activated and municipal teams, together with key partners, are deployed across the municipal area to ensure the safety of residents. Response measures include the temporary relocation of families affected by severe flooding, the clearing of uprooted trees, storm debris and blocked stormwater channels, and the restoration of the electricity supply in affected areas. Reports of localised flooding are also being attended to.
Commenting on the situation, Councillor Stephen Korabie, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, said: “Our teams have been working tirelessly under difficult conditions to keep our communities safe and we will remain vigilant as the weather system continues. Our main focus is to attend to situations where people's lives are endangered, to keep the roads and stormwater channels open, to keep the electricity and traffic lights on, and to ensure access to clean water.
“We ask our residents to please take responsibility for their own properties. Our teams have been working through the night and cannot attend to individual requests. We trust our residents will understand this and support the Municipality as we remain committed to ensuring that basic services are delivered to the broader Drakenstein community," he said.
Since Sunday, the Municipality has evacuated a total of 241 residents, who are being temporarily accommodated in community halls where they are provided with hot meals, blankets and dignity kits. Drakenstein Municipality has also activated a number of its soup kitchens to support ongoing relief efforts. Humanitarian organisations, including Gift of the Givers and the Al-Imdaad Foundation, as well as the Western Cape Department of Social Development are assisting with the provision of humanitarian aid.
Drakenstein Municipality is closely monitoring river and dam levels, including the Berg River in Paarl. (Picture take on 12 May 2026)
Drakenstein Municipality is closely monitoring the canal that feeds into the Klein Berg River in Gouda. As a precautionary measure, 160 people living nearby have been temporarily relocated and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has been dispatched to evacuate more families stranded by rising waters.
A group of 81 residents from the Thembani informal settlement in Drommedaris Street, Mbekweni, have been evacuated due to flooding and temporarily moved to the Mbekweni Community Hall.
All temporary relocations followed full assessments together with the particular areas' ward councillors.
Storm damage has been widespread. Twenty-eight trees have been cleared by the Municipality; a roof in Paarl East was damaged and will be repaired, while several clinics are relying on generators as a result of electricity outages which the Municipality's Electro-Technical Engineering teams are attending to.
All municipal teams remain actively engaged, with river levels under continuous monitoring.
In Wellington, municipal teams are assisting local farmers with the controlled release of water from a farm dam to ease pressure on the dam wall. In Gouda, the levels of the Klein Berg River remain high, while the Berg River in Paarl rose sharply earlier. The Municipality is monitoring this situation closely.
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Drakenstein Municipality's disaster management teams work tirelessly to keep communities safe - English
Drakenstein Municipality's disaster management teams work tirelessly to keep communities safe - Afrikaans
Localised flooding
Localised flooding has been reported at several properties in Paarl, as well as in Wellington, Newton and Simondium. By 19:30 last night (11 May 2026), municipal teams had responded to 164 flooding incidents.
Some of Drakenstein Municipality's rental stock and sports fields are affected by flooding, but all essential municipal infrastructure is intact.
The Roads, Stormwater and Traffic Engineering division also attended to and opened several blockages in the stormwater system.
Electricity disruptions
Drakenstein Municipality's Electro‑Technical Engineering teams are attending to a power outage in Simondium, Klapmuts Road and surrounding farms (Ward 1).
The Municipality thanks residents for their patience and understanding while teams work to restore services as safely and quickly as possible.
Safety reminder
Residents are urged to:
- Remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions;
- Check roofs for leaks or loose tiles;
- Stay away from flooded roads and fast‑flowing water; and
- Ensure essential devices are charged in case of power outages.
Emergencies or incidents can be reported to the Municipality's all-hours, toll‑free number: 080 131 3553.
PLEASE NOTE:
This media statement reflects information available to Drakenstein Municipality at the time of publication. Weather conditions and related incidents may change rapidly and operational responses will be adjusted accordingly. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, the Municipality cannot be held liable for any decisions or actions taken based solely on this communication. Residents are advised to remain vigilant, exercise caution and continue monitoring official municipal communication channels for the latest verified updates.
Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
For media enquiries, contact: Riana Geldenhuys, Manager: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality, on 021 807 6390, 082 460 5554 or rianag@drakenstein.gov.za.
About Drakenstein Municipality
Located an hour's drive from Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is one of the country's most financially sound, well-governed, stable and sustainable municipalities. The Municipality is rated the Best Municipality in the Western Cape for service excellence as well as the Number One Secondary City in South Africa. Drakenstein Municipality has achieved 11 unqualified audit opinions with no findings (clean audits) from the Auditor-General of South Africa. Boasting the largest economy in the Cape Winelands, Drakenstein is home to 311 601 residents and includes the historic Winelands towns of Paarl and Wellington.
Embodying its vision of “a city of excellence", the Municipality prides itself on providing its residents, businesses, investors and visitors with excellent services and well-maintained, advanced infrastructure. As Southern Africa's first self-declared Fair Trade City and the fourth in Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is serious about building a sustainable future and has garnered various awards for its commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Drakenstein is also recognised for having one of the highest growth potentials in the Western Cape. As a progressive business and investment area and a city geared for growth, it constantly attracts new development.
Visit our website at https://www.drakenstein.gov.za/ or follow us on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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