ActionSA Member of Parliament Dereleen James has gone viral after asking “Where’s that #JoziMermaid?” while posting images of localised flooding in Cape Town. The remark directly references Helen Zille’s recent high-profile actions in Johannesburg’s flood-damaged streets.
Persistent heavy rainfall from weekend cold fronts triggered the flooding across parts of the metro over 18 and 19 April 2026.
Dereleen James Posts Viral #JoziMermaid Cape Town Message
On Sunday 19 April 2026, James shared visuals of flooded roads and asked “Where’s that #JoziMermaid 🧜 🧜”. The post quickly attracted more than 10 000 likes and hundreds of replies.
The comment points to Helen Zille, who recently kayaked and swam in flooded Johannesburg streets to spotlight infrastructure failures under the city’s coalition government.
Heavy Rainfall Triggers Localised Flooding in Cape Town
Successive cold fronts brought persistent rain that caused widespread but localised flooding. Bottelary Road in the Brackenfell and Bellville area reported significant inundation, along with other spots including Parkwood, Nyanga and Brown’s Farm.
Motorists faced disruptions while some low-lying areas saw water entering properties. The South African Weather Service had warned of these risks in advance.
City Deploys Disaster Risk Management Teams
Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management teams responded immediately to assess damage and support affected residents. Officials also cleared blocked drains and managed road closures in several suburbs.
City spokesperson Sonica Lategan confirmed teams worked through the weekend in vulnerable communities. The City urged residents to report emergencies via the Public Emergency Communications Centre.
Background on Helen Zille’s Recent Stunts
In mid-April 2026, Helen Zille, the DA’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate, drew national attention by navigating flooded roads in an inflatable boat and swimming in a large water-filled trench in Soweto and other Johannesburg suburbs. She used the actions to criticise long-standing drainage and maintenance problems.
James’ post in the context of JoziMermaid Cape Town flooding highlights ongoing political exchanges between parties over service delivery in different metros.
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