With the flood-hit Western Cape reeling from the impact of heavy rain and gale force winds, six children have been evacuated and three people are missing.
Large parts of the Western Cape suffered severe damage over the long weekend as widespread flooding, landslides and rockfalls forced the closure of all major roads leading into Cape Town.
Heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday caused several rivers to break their banks, destroying infrastructure, causing electricity outages and flooding homes and farmland in greater Cape Town and the Overberg, Overstrand and Winelands regions.
Over a 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday parts of the Overberg region received up to 170mm of rain, Stellenbosch in the Winelands district recorded 133mm, and 92mm of precipitation was recorded at the Royal Yacht Club in Cape Town.
Riverton Stud is blanketed by a moody sky on Monday
The Sporting Post has made efforts to contact some breeders in the province.
While all their horses are thankfully safe, Natasha Barry of Riverton Stud in Robertson told us that the Breede River is rising and that all roads to Cape Town are closed.
“Our accommodation facilities and home is full. Duncan (Barry) has taken spare mattresses to the church hall, which has opened to accommodate the long weekend overflow of stranded travellers. The Civic Centre and the Callie de Wet Sports Centre has also been opened to accommodate everyone,” she said.
Dating back to 1860, Riverton estate was purchased by the Barry’s in 1918, the same year that Nelson Mandela was born. The magnificent farm is located on the Golden River Route and is a two hour drive from Cape Town.
