Disaster management teams respond to KZN areas devastated by heavy rain and hail
Durban: KwaZulu-Natal disaster management teams are mopping up after inclement weather left a trail of destruction in Nkandla, uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu Districts, and the SA Weather Service predicts more rain today in the province.
A few days before Christmas, The Mercury reported that two people died when a retaining wall collapsed during heavy rain in the Nkanini informal settlement in Durban.
On Friday, storms lashed parts of KZN. The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said Friday’s storms brought heavy rains, hail and strong winds, partially destroying over 180 houses in affected areas.
“The hardest-hit area is Mbulwane, Ward 1 of the uMvoti Local Municipality, where 718 people were affected by a hailstorm. Fortunately, no lives were lost in this incident,” Cogta said.
In the uMgungundlovu District under the Mpofana Local Municipality, the department said strong winds and heavy rain damaged seven houses.
“Cogta’s MEC, Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has praised the swift response by disaster management teams in providing relief and support to families affected by severe thunderstorms that struck parts of the uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu Districts.”
The department said the Provincial Disaster Management Centre is working around the clock to ensure swift disaster response wherever incidents occur.
On Saturday, KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said heavy rains and strong winds wreaked havoc and left a trail of destruction in Ward 1, Emanzamnyama in Nkandla.
The MEC said a roving team from the Department of Human Settlements, both national and provincial, will be assessing the damage and accelerating interventions. A verification process was sped up from yesterday to ensure that the needs of vulnerable households are addressed, he said.
Duma said the department
commended the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Nkadimeng, for setting up a satellite office in KZN and for deploying a Disaster Management Team.
“Despite being the festive season, all categories of staff in the Department of Human Settlements have been mandated to respond with a sense of urgency,” said the MEC.
“We commend the chair of the portfolio committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Hon Sizophila Mkhize, for working with the local councillor and for alerting authorities on behalf of the affected communities,” he added.
In an update yesterday, the department said electricity is being restored by Eskom in various parts of Ward 1 Nkandla.
“This follows distressed calls directed to MEC Siboniso Duma. He has intervened decisively.”
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for severe
thunderstorms today, as well as a Level 1 warning for winds and waves, which will cause difficulty navigating at sea.
Saws said isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over the central and eastern areas, except in places along the coast of KwaZulu Natal.
Pietermaritzburg will reach a maximum temperature of 35, Ladysmith 35, Underberg 31 and Margate 30, Durban 31, and Richards Bay 32.
