People still trapped in Karoo snow

The road to Fraserburg in the Karoo. Picture: ESA ALEXANDER

About 120 people were still trapped and isolated by heavy snowfalls in the central Karoo, a Cape Town disaster management spokesman said on Tuesday.

"Approximately 120 people living on seven farms are isolated from civilisation due to the snowfalls in the Central Karoo district municipality,” said Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Cape Town spokesman on disaster operations.

Heavy rains also affected people in the Murraysburg region. Snowfall in the Western Cape and other areas resulted in motorists being trapped on roads and rural towns being cut off from the outside world.

Solomons-Johannes said an unknown number of farm workers and their children were cut off in the Matjiesfontein region, with six families isolated at Klawervlei.

In Modderdrift, three families were affected; Grootvlei, four families; Renosterfontein, two families; Matjiesvlei, three families; and Wittehart, 10 families.

Cape Town disaster teams dispatched to Beaufort West brought dry wood, food parcels, blankets, and baby packs to the victims on Monday night.

“They are in an emergency meeting with the different municipalities now,” said Solomons-Johannes, adding that donations would be welcomed.

An information hotline was established and members of the public could contribute to the disaster relief operations by contacting the city's disaster risk management centre at 021-597 6004.

People could donate fresh or tinned food, wood, paraffin, blankets, and help transport these goods.

Cape Town councillor for safety and security, JP Smith, said the city had been asked to help the Western Cape government with logistical arrangements, and provide aid to people trapped in mountainous areas.

“The city indicated its willingness to support the Western Cape government and the affected municipalities in the spirit of co-operative governance,” he said.

- Times Live