Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has assured residents that disaster management teams are on high alert as disruptive rains are expected across the province heading to Christmas.
Buthelezi also assured residents that disaster management teams are closely monitoring bad weather conditions.
KZN residents should expect torrential rainfall from Monday to Wednesday following a weather alert issued by the South African Weather Service (Saws).
According to the warning, Zululand, uThukela, uMzinyathi, uMgungundlovu, King Cetshwayo, and Harry Gwala districts will experience heavy rains on Monday afternoon.
These conditions could lead to flooding of settlements, roads, and bridges; damage to property and infrastructure; damage to mud-based houses; poor driving conditions; and major disruption of traffic flow due to road and bridge closures or flooding.
Moreover, a level 2 weather warning has been issued for eThekwini, Harry Gwala, Ugu, uMkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, uThukela, iLembe, and Amajuba for Monday and Tuesday.
The risk of flooding is high in all these areas due to increased soil saturation from the weekend's heavy rains.
“Disaster management teams will continue to monitor the weather conditions in these areas,” said Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila.
Mzila said the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) continues to coordinate the province’s disaster response in collaboration with critical stakeholders, including government agencies, municipalities, and social partners.
“Weather conditions across the province’s main routes, including the N2, N11, and N3, are being closely monitored by the PDMC in cooperation with Sanral,” Mzila said.
He said that over the weekend, inclement weather affected many parts of the province. Heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, damaged electricity infrastructure, plunging several communities into darkness.
“In the eThekwini Metro, two people lost their lives on Saturday, December 21, at the Nkanini Informal Settlement in Cato Manor, ward 30, when heavy rains caused a retaining wall to collapse onto two informal structures, resulting in fatalities. A 38-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were declared deceased at the scene,” Mzila said.
He stated that Buthelezi expressed his condolences to the affected families and urged KZN residents to heed weather warnings as conditions pose a serious risk to human life.
Precautions for residents during heavy rains:
- Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with weather forecasts and alerts.
- Avoid flood-prone areas: Do not attempt to cross flooded roads or bridges.
- Stay indoors: Remain inside during heavy rains unless absolutely necessary.
- Prepare an emergency kit: Include essentials such as water, non-perishable food, medications, and a flash light.
- Secure your home: Ensure that drainage systems are clear and secure outdoor items that could be blown away.
- Drive safely: If you must travel, drive slowly and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
- Avoid contact with flood water: It may be contaminated and pose health risks.
- Elevate electrical appliances: Keep them above potential flood levels to prevent damage and electrical hazards.
- Be cautious of landslides: If you live in a hilly area, be aware of the risk of landslides due to saturated soil.
“By following these precautions, residents can help ensure their safety and minimise the impact of the severe weather conditions,” Mzila stated.
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