Jennifer Lin, Lisa Yang | Reporting from South Africa 

Responding to Catastrophic Flooding in Cape Town 

On August 10, 2024, relentless rain and harsh winds gripped Cape Town, South Africa, creating a chilling contrast for those seeking comfort indoors. As dawn broke, a dire alert surfaced: a dam in the River Land region had burst under the pressure of constant rain, its rushing waters overwhelming a second reservoir and ultimately flooding the surrounding River Land and Chatsworth areas. 

In accessible areas of the disaster zone, massive pits caused by severe water erosion scarred the landscape, turning roads into rivers and covering the area in mounds of mud and dirt, with no spot left untouched. | Photo by Ni-Na Wu 

Responding to this crisis, five Tzu Chi volunteers from Cape Town—Joe Wu, Joann Lai, Jennifer Lin, Wei-Hsuan Teng, and Ni-Na Wu—immediately reorganized their schedules to assess the damage and support local relief efforts. 

Volunteers Meet with Survivors in Flooded Shelters 

Railways, a crucial means of external transportation, have suffered damage due to foundation erosion and recent torrential rains, leaving villagers helpless. | Photo by Jennifer Lin 

Upon arrival in the flooded zone, the Tzu Chi team encountered challenging conditions. The roads were muddy and barely passable, but with determination, they reached the local River Land Pop Centre, a designated evacuation site.  

The school, also a hard-hit area, shows signs of receding floodwaters, yellow silt deposits, cracked classroom walls, and scattered desks and chairs. | Photo by Jennifer Lin 

At the shelter, they met Mr. Andrewlime Petersen, who offered a detailed briefing. “This is the first shelter at River Land Pop Centre,” Petersen explained. “There’s a school nearby where another temporary office has been set up, and a second shelter is stationed at Love Church. Local donors have provided water, food, clothing, and meals from a mobile kitchen. However, there’s an urgent need for drinking water, blankets, shoes, socks, and basic daily necessities.” 

Flooding across the campus has compromised foundations, with standing water, extensive wall and window damage, and accumulations of mud, sand, and weeds. | Photo by Jennifer Lin 

In a somber visit to the school, which had also been impacted by the flood, the volunteers saw firsthand the toll of the disaster. The schoolyard bore muddy evidence of receded floodwaters, while damaged classroom walls and scattered desks testified to the havoc wreaked. Although two main shelters were established, resources were stretched, accommodating approximately 75 survivors between the two locations. To safeguard the area, local authorities had stationed police and halted classes, with leaks detected in a third nearby reservoir, posing continued risk. 

A corner of the school has also become a temporary shelter, offering refuge, as survivors ponder when they will be able to rebuild and what the future holds. | Photo by Jennifer Lin 

Stories of Survival in the Wake of Disaster 

During the assessment, volunteers met Mr. Ashley, a survivor, who recounted the harrowing moments of the disaster and how he and his children narrowly escaped harm. | Photo by Jennifer Lin

Among the survivors the volunteers met was Mr. Ashley, whose harrowing account of the flood’s arrival on August 8 underscored the terror the community experienced. In the quiet of the night, Mr. Ashley awoke to an unusual sound but quickly dismissed it, trying to fall back asleep. Moments later, he noticed his bed trembling, and when he reached for his phone, he felt water. 

Rushing to the window, he saw the water level rising. Immediately, he gathered his young son and daughter, holding each by the hand as they waded through the flooding. Suddenly, he realized that the fast-moving water had separated him from his children. Miraculously, his daughter was found unharmed some distance away, while his son, fortunately, had clung to a nearby tree. The kindness of neighbors, who heard the boy’s cries, helped reunite the family. This event left Mr. Ashley’s house destroyed, and his story exemplifies the unimaginable hardship faced by hundreds of residents. 

Immediate Relief: Volunteers Supply Essential Aid 

At the shelter, survivors experienced a moment of relief and happiness, smiling alongside volunteer Jennifer Lin (far right) with rice from Taiwan distributed by Tzu Chi. | Photo by Chia-Jen Lin 

After conducting their initial assessment, the Tzu Chi volunteers swiftly agreed on a relief plan. They set out to gather urgently needed supplies, including drinking water, rice from Taiwan, coffee, green beans, sugar, peanut butter, oatmeal, soy milk, flour, and gently used winter clothing and shoes. With these resources, the team returned to distribute aid to the shelters, hoping to bring some measure of comfort to the disaster survivors. 

Though the donated shoes were second-hand, finding the right sizes brought survivors immense joy, offering warmth and protection from the freezing cold. | Photo by Jennifer Lin

As they moved through the shelters, the volunteers noted a haunting stillness in the flood-stricken areas. The survivors, still processing the suddenness of the disaster, seemed dazed by the ordeal and uncertain about the future. The chilly weather revealed the urgency of the volunteers’ mission with survivors awaiting assistance in the bitter cold. 

Hope Amid Devastation 

At Love Church, the second shelter, volunteer Joann Lai (far right) brought warmth to those enduring the harsh winter, providing much-needed comfort and lifting the spirits of survivors. | Photo by Jennifer Lin 

Though the path to recovery appears daunting, the Tzu Chi volunteers remain steadfast, determined to lend a compassionate hand. They know that their contributions are but a small gesture, but every bit counts. Their hope is that, through these collective acts of kindness, the survivors can begin to rebuild and look toward a future of restored normalcy. In the days ahead, the Tzu Chi team will continue their efforts, fostering hope, courage, and resilience among the survivors.