Johan Burger remembers that day in 1984 like it was yesterday when he stood as a young man by the flooded R303 access road to Citrusdal in the Western Cape. He had just returned from the army as a young soldier and was on his way home.
However, he could not enter the town on foot because the road was flooded due to the Olifants River overflowing. Wooden rowing boats with ropes took people into the town and also brought in supplies for residents.
Now, 39 years later, Burger again faces “dead man’s town”, with no way to enter the town.
“However, it feels like this flood is worse than the one in 1984. A larger part of the road is under water and more farms have been affected by the floodwaters,” says Burger. “Water has been falling from the sky for three weeks now, which is much more rain than 40 years ago.”
According to Ina van Wyk, the flood water level on their farm is higher than it has ever been. She has lived in Citrusdal for 50 years.
Spokie de Villiers has lived in the town for 28 years and told RNews that Citrusdal “has never seen so much water”.
Residents were cut off from the rest of the world from Wednesday to Saturday with all access roads to and from the town flooded.
By Sunday, residents could use the alternative Ceres and Clanwilliam road, which is however only a one-track road. A private low water bridge at Mouton Citrus’ warehouse has also been opened to motorists.
Residents’ internet access was also interrupted, but has since been restored.
However, the town is still without power due to flood damage and Eskom has informed residents that they may have to wait until Friday to finish. Residents on Clanwilliam, Wupperthal, Elandskloof and Algeria are also in the dark.
According to the Cederberg municipality, some of its officials were stranded in the town. There were also people stranded outside Citrusdal and unable to get to work. Schoolchildren from Graafwater Special School and West Coast School were also unable to go home.
“It’s a bad feeling to know you can’t go anywhere,” says De Villiers. “However, it is nobody’s fault and we are trying to make the best of a bad case.”
Residents are holding their breath for more flooding, with more rain forecast for the area until Tuesday.
“We live in uncertainty, because we don’t know when we will be able to go to town again,” says Van Wyk.
Van Wyk describes the orchards and fields that “stand in the water” as a “disaster”.
“It is now harvest time for the citrus farmers. The oranges’ grade decreases with so much water. Farmers have to drive away citrus, but there is no road. A temporary road is urgently needed.”
The Cederberg municipality confirmed on Monday that repairs will begin on the R303 road to Citrusdal.
Humanitarian aid
Most town houses were not affected by the floodwaters, but houses in the Riverview settlement – which is located near the river’s flood line – are under water. Residents had to leave the area and are currently being housed in the community hall in Oranjeville.
The relief group Gift of the Givers also sent a truck with food and necessities for residents via the private low-water bridge.
The retailer Spar sent trucks to Citrusdal via the alternative routes to replenish supplies in the town.
Helicopters from the Western Cape government were deployed to reach surrounding communities in need – such as Wupperthal – with blankets, food, bottled water and sanitary products. It was also donated by Gift of the Givers.
The municipality praises the community, organizations and government’s cooperation in “the time of need”.
“The municipal councilors showed their mettle and braved the storm and rain every day and took strong leadership,” says the municipality.
