I’m writing to express our deep gratitude for your generous support during the recent winter crisis in Cape Town. Your support, care and donations have been a lifeline for thousands of people affected by the disastrous floods and heavy rains that battered our city.
As you may know, the South African Weather Service confirmed that July 2024 saw record-breaking rainfall in Cape Town, with the city receiving more than double its average monthly rainfall. As the reports came in and our team began to respond to the flooding, the devastation was far beyond what we could have anticipated. With over 33,000 homes and nearly 100,000 people affected, the need for relief was immediate and overwhelming.
Our team spent two weeks assessing the needs of the hardest-hit communities, often wading through floodwaters to reach those in desperate situations. We prioritized households that had been submerged in ankle-deep water or more for several weeks—conditions that led to extensive damage and posed severe health risks.
We are particularly concerned about the impact on children and the elderly, who have been stranded in their homes, surrounded by deteriorating furniture and belongings. The prolonged wet conditions have made recovery efforts much more challenging than a typical disaster, like a fire, where rebuilding can begin quickly. Instead, this ongoing crisis has led to extended suffering for many.
Even now, with at least a month of winter still ahead, we continue to distribute aid section by section, often in the evenings to reach those who work late.
Keep reading below for more of our disaster relief report.
Donations have arrived!
Blanket delivery!
Our incredible Community Response Team
Unloading for distribution to begin
Assessing the damage and gathering household data
Receiving Donated Goods and packing
We are very thankful that our Mandela Day event was scheduled for immediately following the worst of the storm, which allowed us to combine that day’s events with our emergency relief efforts.
Together with so many of you volunteering your time that day we packed:
- 5,175 Emergency Stew Packs
- 850 Rehydration Sachets of Salt and Sugar
- 210 Hygiene Packs
This means:
- 20,700 individuals in emergencies can receive warm food in an emergency!
- 850 families/individuals have access to lifesaving rehydration during critical medical incidences.
- 210 families/individuals will receive hygiene essentials after disasters or emergencies.
From all of us at Living Hope, thank you to everyone who donated their time, resources, and items!
Packing each waterproof 110L containers with lids, hygiene packs, warm blankets, and dry stew mix.
Containers packed and ready to go out for delivery
Making sure that the right box gets to the right folks
Farm Recovery
The storm caused substantial destruction, particularly to our food tunnels and shade net structure, which are essential for protecting and nurturing our produce. The initial phase of our recovery involved the thorough removal of debris scattered across the farm. This included clearing fallen branches, damaged plants, and other storm-related waste. Despite crop and seedling losses, replanting efforts have commenced, focusing on the most affected areas. We are working diligently to replenish our crops and ensure the continuity of our agricultural programme.
The doors of several tunnels require welding to restore their functionality. We have received quotes for the necessary repairs and have engaged an outside company to carry out this work. Currently, we are approximately 80% of the way through the repairs, with ongoing efforts to fully restore the tunnels and shade net structure. To address the damage to the plastic covering our food tunnels, we have utilized patchwork and repair tape. This has allowed us to make temporary repairs and continue using the tunnels while we await more permanent solutions.
While the storm has presented significant challenges, the commitment of our team and the support of our partners have been instrumental in our recovery. We remain hopeful that with continued effort and God’s grace, our farm will not only recover but thrive once more.
Distribution of relief goods:
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to deliver a box to 2,962 households, impacting over 9,474 people.
Your support has made all the difference in these efforts, providing comfort and hope to those who need it most.
Thank you for standing with us and with the communities we serve. Your kindness and compassion have brought light to a very dark time, and we are incredibly grateful.
Thank you for your generosity and compassion.
Victor Thomas
Executive Director