A woman has been injured after a tree fell onto her vehicle in Cape Town’s Plattekloof area, as severe weather conditions continue to lash parts of the Western Cape.
Emergency services responded to the incident on Thursday, where the affected road was partially closed and traffic diverted while crews worked to clear debris and assist at the scene.
The incident comes as a second cold front makes landfall over the Western Cape, bringing heavy rainfall, gale-force winds and widespread disruption. Several communities were already affected earlier in the week after an initial frontal system hit the province on Sunday.
City authorities reported localised flooding across multiple roadways, while fallen trees and storm damage have contributed to ongoing traffic delays.
On the M3 near Rhodes Drive, a fallen tree has blocked part of the roadway. In Rosmead Avenue, officials also reported live electrical wires lying across the street, prompting safety concerns and further disruptions.
The City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management says it has received numerous reports of flooding in informal settlements, power outages and blocked drainage systems. Assessments are currently underway, although no major structural damage has been confirmed so far.
Meanwhile, shelters across the city are reporting increased demand as vulnerable residents seek refuge from the harsh winter conditions.
Shaddie Valayadum of the Haven Night Shelter said the current cold spell has placed significant pressure on already stretched facilities.
He noted that more than 60 new homeless individuals have been accommodated in the past two weeks alone, a sharp increase compared to previous years over the same period.
Valayadum described the conditions faced by people living on the streets during winter as severe and life-threatening, particularly amid ongoing storms.
Traffic authorities have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, as flooding, debris and reduced visibility continue to affect major routes across the city.