Cederberg mayor concerned about damage heavy rain may cause to infrastructure

CITRUSDAL - Cederberg Local Municipality Mayor Ruben Richards said that he was concerned about the damage the current rain in the Western Cape might cause to infrastructure in his region.
 
Last year, the town of Citrusdal was completely cut off after the nearby Olifants River washed away the main access road leading into the town.
 
Damaged electricity infrastructure left many residents without electricity.
 
Wupperthal, a farm town also in the Cederberg region, has now also been cut off due to flooded roads.
 
In June last year, an access bridge to the town of Citrusdal collapsed following heavy floods.
 
Richards said that he was concerned that the heavy downpours might put pressure on the already vulnerable bridge.
 
The mayor said that he was currently meeting with engineers for solutions to mitigate the risk of another collapse. 
 
"We thought we had a 36-hour window, it was not supposed to be raining. But the big rains are coming Thursday and Friday, and we're hoping and praying that the wall holds. We will do our level best."
 
He said that in the future, the road would need to be raised by at least a metre and a half to avoid spillages from the river.