Alison Bevege
15 November 2008
The resort town of Montagu has been hard hit by the floods, with holiday homes in the hot-springs area washed into the river and the town cut in half.
Municipal spokesperson Sanelle Posthumus said electricity supply was intermittent, but the water supply to Montagu and Montagu West remained a problem.
Floodwaters raged down the Keisie River, stranding tourists and washing away 23 holiday chalets and two villas at Montagu Springs Holiday Resort.
Twenty people, including two babies, had to be evacuated before dawn on Thursday as the chalets began slipping into the river.
Montagu Springs assistant manager Elizma Shepherd said chalet 48 slipped away, slowly followed by 24 other structures. The forces of nature finally ripped the hotel pool in half.
Fridges, beds, microwave ovens and stoves were sent hurtling down towards the town of Montagu, where locals reportedly seized them.
In the town proper, the flooded Keisie River divided the community in half.
About 900 people in Montagu West were cut off from all transport and left without sewerage or water on Wednesday night after a bridge was washed away.
"It was here on Wednesday - but it wasn't here on Thursday," said Montagu resident Baron Fowler, 58, as he gazed at the raging brown rapids on Friday.
A small crowd of people gathered on the Montagu West side to wave helplessly at their friends and neighbours.
Montagu OK Foods grocery store owner Francois Pieterse organised the community to set up a pipe with a tap across the Keisie River on Friday morning so the Montagu West residents would have water.
"Everybody in town pitched in, including the police," he said.
He also helped set up and operate a rope pulley system at the end of Lover's Lane to deliver small bags of medicine and food to the people stranded in Montagu West.
Johanne Volschenk, 33, of Montagu West was cut off from his home on the wrong side of the river on Wednesday.
"I've had to wash the same pair of clothes every evening and dry them every morning for the past three days," he said.
Police had difficulty controlling children who played in the torrent.
At least six children under the age of 12 waded into the torrential Keisie River, throwing mud and rocks, unwittingly risking their lives. Meanwhile, two adventurous youths rode the rapids on inner tubes.
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its still extremely upsetting to hear what happened in Montague springs. It was and will forever be my most favorite holiday destination and it really brings me to tears to see all the damage that was done. i was always drawn to the banks of that river and its upsetting that the government did nothing about this.hoping the best for my dads friend Mr.Lipschitz and all the employees.