Ek kan maar net my kop skud...

Shack dwellers hope for floods 28/04/2009 17:33 - (SA)

Cape Town - Some Cape Town shack dwellers believe they would jump to the top of housing waiting lists if they built their homes in flood-prone areas, the city said on Tuesday.

This was a "misconception", it said in a statement outlining its preparations for the winter rains.

It said various city departments were co-ordinating plans to manage flooding and storm damage in the coming months.

According to the SA Weather Service, mid-July to August could see higher than normal rainfall.

"This will probably result in extreme weather conditions with possible local flooding," the city said.

City stormwater manager Barry Wood said most of Cape Town's 3.2 million residents lived on the Cape Flats which was prone to flooding due to its flat topography, limited natural watercourses and high water tables.

The city would continue its public education programme to warn residents of the dangers of settling in retention ponds, wetlands and other flood-prone areas.

It had already embarked on a city-wide stormwater system cleaning programme to reduce risk.

- SAPA