Heavy rains in KZN Midlands: Three missing and significant damage in uMshwathi Municipality
New Hanover and others parts of the uMshwathi Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands were flooded during Sunday's heavy rains.
Image: KZN Cogta Department / Facebook
Three people are missing and houses and roads were severely damaged in uMshwathi Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands due to heavy rains on Sunday.
The KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) department said in a statement that the disaster management teams are responding to multiple reports of damage across the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, which includes the area of uMshwathi.
The department said the three people were swept away amid localised flooding in the New Hanover area.
“Disaster management personnel are currently on-site and working closely with search and rescue units to locate the missing individuals. Preliminary information suggests that several residential properties have sustained flood damage, and road infrastructure, including bridges, has been affected.
“The full extent of the destruction is not yet quantified. Disaster management officials will conduct comprehensive assessments in the affected communities to determine the scale of the damage and the immediate needs of residents once conditions allow for safe operations,” KZN Cogta said.
KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma is set to visit the uMshwathi Local Municipality on Monday to assess damage to houses and road infrastructure due to Sunday's heavy rains.
In a separate statement on Sunday night, Duma said the department had received distressed calls from communities and motorists following prolonged heavy rainfall in various parts of the province.
“In particular, we have already sent a roving team from Human Settlements to assess destroyed houses and road infrastructure in uMshwathi Local Municipality. I have taken a decision to visit affected communities in Umshwathi. I will be joined by the Mayor of Umshwathi Local Municipality, Cllr Mandla Zondi.
“Following our assessment, I will engage with the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, as part of efforts to strengthen and augment our intervention. Our focus is on short-term housing solutions for the displaced families. Many communities will be isolated as roads and bridges have been flooded and some washed away.”
Regarding reports of waterlogged and flooded roads in parts of the province, Duma said the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) was working hard to ensure the safety of motorists.
“The RTI team is coordinating certain road closures and observing major routes. We are in consultation with N3 Toll Concession and different traffic departments in various affected municipalities.
“In particular, we request stakeholders in the freight industry to work with RTI to manage the movement of trucks. With Durban being the logistics hub, the RTI team is activating a plan to escort trucks and vehicles to ensure that there is no congestion on the N3 and N2.
“Critically, we urge members of the public and motorists to follow weather reports and, where necessary, reschedule their journeys in anticipation of any eventuality,” Duma said.