Author: svadmin

JOHANNESBURG— Hundreds of people have been evacuated to safety after heavy rains once again hammered South Africa’s coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, flooding roads and houses and damaging properties, a government official said.

The province is still restoring damaged infrastructure and making plans to re-home people displaced after flooding last month, which was among the worst to have affected KwaZulu-Natal province in its recorded history. April’s floods killed 448, with 88 still missing, left more than 6,800 homeless and damaged more than 25 billion rand (US$1.58 billion) of infrastructure.

The province had received early warnings from the South Africa Weather Service, alerting it to further disruptive rainfall on Saturday in a number of towns, including Durban, the worst hit by the previous floods.

“So far the greatest impact is expected along the coastal and north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal,” Sipho Hlomuka, member of the executive council for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs told journalists.

He said approximately 250 people had been evacuated from care centres in Tongaat and Tehuise in Durban, including retirement villages, to other facilities. Only one family was evacuated due to the collapse of an informal dwelling.

“This heavy rainfall has resulted in the flooding of roads, human settlements and damage to properties. We understand that some areas are inaccessible and have become islands at this stage,” he said, adding they had yet to receive a full report on the impact of the latest heavy rains.

Rainfall persisted on Sunday in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the South Africa Weather service said, as the alert level remained at the highest and most severe level of 10.

Scientists believe the southeastern coast of Africa is becoming more vulnerable to violent storms and floods as human emissions of heat-trapping gases cause the Indian Ocean to warm. They expect the trend to worsen dramatically in coming decades.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Manenberg and Khayelitsha shooters must be apprehended speedily

I am extremely angry at the latest shooting incidents that occurred in Khayelitsha and Manenberg. On Sunday evening in Ekuphumleni, which is situated in Khayelitsha, 3 members of a family were fatally shot in their home. In Manenberg, this morning, there were attempts to shoot and kill 5 people.

I want these perpetrators found and arrested speedily. This terror has no place in our society and must be brought to an end.

Khayelitsha has been plagued by severe shooting incidents and this cannot be allowed to continue unabated. The flare ups of gang related shootings in Manenberg are of deep concern and must also immediately stop.

I call on SAPS to leave no stone unturned and to urgently track these heartless criminals down. Every bit of crime intelligence and investigation ability should be employed to find and arrest these criminals. My plea to the community is to assist SAPS and law enforcement by providing any leads they might have so that these perpetrators can be arrested. We must ensure they face the full might of the law.

The days of gangsters running around like they own the place and terrorising our residents are over.

I want residents not to lose hope, as I will continue to advocate that the National Government provide the additional policing resources that we so greatly need and deserve.

Source: Government of South Africa

Statement by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and eThekwini Municipality following the recent storms in KwaZulu-Natal held on 22 May 2022

Greetings!

We would like to welcome all members of the media who have joined us today virtually, and via our social media platforms.

The purpose of this briefing is to provide an update on the latest situation following the resurgence of storms and floods over the past 24 hours.

Overnight on 21 and 22May 2022, the province yet again underwent some of the worst storms that have been accompanied by floods resulting in destruction that comes with such situations.

We are yet to receive a full comprehensive report on the impact of these latest heavy rains, but as reports come in a worrying picture is however emerging.

The South African Weather Services (SAWS) predicts that the storm will be moving up the coast thus affecting the district of King Cetshwayo and Mkhanyakude.

According to the SAWS the rains have affected mostly the coastal areas with those around eThekwini mostly impacted.

The Province received early warnings at alert LEVEL 10 from the South Africa Weather Service (SAWS) alerting to disruptive rainfall in Hluhluwe, EThekwini, Jozini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe, Nongoma, Ulundi, Umdoni, Umhlabuyalingana, uMhlathuze, uMlalazi and uPhongolo municipal areas.

So far the greatest impact is expected along the coastal and north-eastern parts of the KZN.

These heavy rainfalls have resulted into flooding of roads, human settlements, and damage properties.

We understand that some areas are inaccessible and have become islands at this stage.

Water levels are being closely monitored in various areas that are prone to flooding so that appropriate measures will be effected.

As the number of calls at the control centre has increased, the department has appealed to the SANDF to be deployed to the Northern parts of Durban for urgent response. The metro police and fire department are assisting with water pumping and road closure where the roads are affected.

However a few roads have been temporary closed around Pinetown and other areas due to flooding.

A number of roads and bridges in Ethekwini, especially uMdloti, La Mercy and others have been affected and we urge road users to be on the alert and to stay at home if possible.

Evacuation Measures so far

There are approximately two hundred and fifty (250) people that are evacuated in Tongaat and Tehuise care centres. Currently 82 care centres with 3186 people counted around the city can used to accommodate people. So far, 40 people St Catherine, Waterways in Tongaat 44 units, Plain Street, retirement village in Tongaat were evacuated.

The Westbrook retirement village was evacuated. A total of 190 people have been evacuated and the fire brigade unit has assisted with pumping the water the hall.

The Ilembe district was hugely affected with a number of household being left homeless and the road network infrastructure being affected.

Damage King Cetshwayo

In King Cetshwayo severe damage was reported to the Ngobese house which fell due to heavy rains & wind.

A family of 9 members living in a one room house has been moved following damage to their house.

The Zululand District is experiencing heavy rainfall and is being closely monitored.

We can assure the people of KwaZulu-Natal of the preparedness of all our disaster teams in all districts including being alert to all the areas that are prone to flooding.

Relief interventions

Relief interventions are on-going to ensure that all community halls with displaced people are receiving adequate relief assistance, social support services and medical assistance.

In the event flood prone areas need to evacuate people due to rising water levels, the open halls will be able to accommodate them.

So far, Social Partners such as Red Cross, Al-Imdaad Foundation and many others have been activated to support municipalities with humanitarian Aid and hot meals. Provincial and Municipal Emergency Services such as RTI, EMS, SAPS, SANDF, Metro Police, Search and Rescue have been activated and they are on standby to respond swiftly.

The Yellow Plant activation by municipal technical services have been done for snow prone areas.

We have instructed every municipality to identify and allocate community halls to be used as homeless sheltering. Sector Departments and other stakeholders (NGOs) have been advised to activate their respective contingency plans to ensure that the damaged public infrastructure is repaired immediately.

I Thank You!

Source: Government of South Africa