12/04/2022
As the rain continues for a 5th day, please stop asking if it is safe to drive from area X to area Y. Unless you ABSOLUTELY need to leave home, you are advised to keep off the roads. The emergency teams have their hands full and lots of roads are waterlogged.
WEATHER UPDATE: RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO STAY AT HOME AS HEAVY RAINS CONTINUE ACROSS KZN, SANDF ROPED IN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT
The inclement weather conditions are continuing to cause havoc across our province.
Residents residing in low lying areas are urged to seek shelter on higher ground, disaster management teams have opened public facilities such as community halls for those that need shelter.
The department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is working together with social partners and sister departments to ensure that there is interim relief for those that are housed in shelters.
So far the extent of the heavy rains is across the province with eThekwini being one of the most affected areas.
Our teams are still collating the extent of the damage so far.
We wish to commend the brave disaster management teams, law enforcement and first aid responders for working all night to protect and preserve human life amid difficult circumstances.
Disaster management teams have been evacuating people in areas that have experienced mudslides, flooding, and structural collapses of buildings and roads. The heavy rains have affected power lines in many municipalities with technical teams working around the clock to restore power.
Residents in areas that are on higher ground are urged to open up their homes for their neighbours who are stranded as a result of the flooding caused by the heavy rains. Many roads are blocked and residents are requested to avoid unnecessary journeys.
The inclement weather conditions are expected to continue today and the South African Weather Service has warned of significant rainfall in eThekwini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Ndwedwe, Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni, Mkhambathini, Richmond, Msunduzi, uBuhlebezwe, uMlalazi, uMngeni, uMshwathi, Umuziwabantu, uMvoti, Umzimkhulu, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Umzumbe municipalities.
This increases the risk of flooding getting worse in all these areas.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre has activated support from the South African National Defence Force for them to provide aerial support where necessary.
