• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home South Africa

KZN already vulnerable infrastructure suffers a double blow: Premier Zikalala

23 May 2022, 4:36 PM  |
Nonkululeko Hlophe Nonkululeko Hlophe |  @SABCNews
A damaged buidling is seen in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal following heavy rains at the weekend.

A damaged buidling is seen in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal following heavy rains at the weekend.

Image: Mlondi Hadebe

A damaged buidling is seen in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal following heavy rains at the weekend.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has been visiting areas where mudslides and heavy rains destroyed informal settlements, homes, roads and businesses.

Zikalala and a number of MECs have been visiting uMdloti in Durban on Monday to assess the extent of the damage. He says the already vulnerable infrastructure has now suffered a double blow.

The KwaZulu-Natal government is still assessing the damage caused by the latest heavy rains and floods which hit the province this past weekend.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes after torrential rains fell in the province for the second time in six weeks.

Bridges and roads and other infrastructure were severely damaged. At least one fatality has been reported.

The north coast towns of Umdloti and La Mercy and the Bluff, a suburb in the south of Durban, were some of the hardest-hit areas.

“The damage is huge M4 which was already closed due to previous floods that took place in April but also the road got affected severely damaged between La Mercy and Seatides. A number of people lost property. The houses around here in uMdloti were severely damaged. The process of rebuilding is still going to continue. The only thing is that they will now be added responsibilities which will need to be undertaken.”

Repairs to critical highways and roads north of Durban will be planned along with infrastructure already damaged from last month’s floods.

Government to increase efforts to help affected communities and rebuild damaged areas:

Hundreds left homeless

Zikalala says hundreds of residents have been left homeless by the heavy rains, which hit the province’s coast at the weekend.

Over a hundred displaced community members of Esikhaleni (Esikhawini) have been temporarily placed at a local hall after their homes were flooded. #KZNFloods #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/IdG3TCSLHE

— MaMthiyane (@skhangiwem) May 23, 2022

Zikalala has committed that a process of rebuilding will continue in the province and that his government will assist those affected.

The Premier says the La Mercy bridge in the north of Durban, has effectively been cut off after the collapse of parts of the road linking the area to the N2.

“We have seen the damage is huge. The first is infrastructure on roads. M4 which was already closed due to the fact the previous floods affected the roads between Lamesi and Sitha…it is impossible for people to use that road for today.”

Residents from Bluff, south of Durban, are also picking up the pieces. David Lewes’ house flooded from the gushing mudslides. Lewes and his family were forced to evacuate, saying they feared for their lives.

“Due to some construction works from above us from a neighbouring property and with large excavated soil and unprotected earth banks with the combination of the heavy rains, we have suffered mudslides that has come down the hill and gone through our property and in the process of that there is a massive sinkhole that has developed in the front of our property under the foundations. Every time it rains, we literally cannot sleep we concern that next time the property won’t be here.”

In the video below, Reporter Simphiwe Makhanya provides an update on the extent of damage in the Bluff area:

Last month’s devastating floods claimed the lives of 448 people and caused infrastructure damage estimated at billions of rands.

This past weekend heavy rains again wreaked havoc, forcing many people to evacuate their homes and leaving some trapped.

More disruptive rains

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Services has forecast disruptive rains in the north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Forecaster Wiseman Dlamini says skies are only expected to start to clear from Wednesday.

“We are still expecting some rain, especially over northern KZN today. There is an 80 percent probability of showers over the extreme northeastern parts of KZN and then northern KZN with 50 percent expected and also we still have a warning for destructive rain over the northeastern parts of KZN for today and the weather is going to be improving from tomorrow. We don’t expect any more rain for most parts of KZN however there might still be light rain over the extreme northeastern parts in the morning tomorrow. From Wednesday onwards, no rain is expected.”

Emergency contacts

Below are emergency organisations’ contact details:

 

Share article
Tags: KwaZulu-NatalSihle ZikalalaKZN Floods
Previous Post

Three siblings shot dead in Khayelitsha on Sunday

Next Post

Man City’s Mendy pleads not guilty to sexual assault

Related Posts

Patient being evacuated close to the Boss 400 wreck.

NSRI cautions against visiting Bos 400 shipwreck site

6 February 2023, 2:51 PM

LIVE | Dr Frene Ginwala tribute

6 February 2023, 2:04 PM
A customer looks over a Glock 17 9mm hand gun at the Guns-R-Us gun shop in Phoenix, Arizona, December 20, 2012.

Kwazakhele massacre claims another life on Saturday

6 February 2023, 1:05 PM
Water & Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu briefs media.

Minister Mchunu to receive progress reports on North West water challenges

6 February 2023, 7:01 AM
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is seen interacting with the school management team at the Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan on 03 February 2023 following the fatal stabbing of a learner.

Emotional stress, gangs behind recent spate of violence in Gauteng schools

5 February 2023, 9:05 PM
On this day in 2016, a container at the mine entrance collapsed and buried Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda.

Action SA to compel government, Lily Mine owners to retrieve container trapped underground

5 February 2023, 7:13 PM
Next Post
Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy

Man City's Mendy pleads not guilty to sexual assault

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Budding Stellenbosch FC star reportedly stabbed to death
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Kellerman, Bantwini, Zikode win Grammy award
  • Tributes pour in for Stellenbosch FC player Oshwin Andries
  • We are not moved by threats made by Malema: Mbalula
  • Former Orlando Pirates midfielder John Moeti passes away
  • ‘If you are lazy, stay home’, Mbalula advises ANC members

LATEST

Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode receive the Grammy award for Best Global Music Performance in Los Angeles California on February 6, 2023.
  • Lifestyle

Ladysmith Black Mambazo congratulates SA musicians on their Grammy wins


Patient being evacuated close to the Boss 400 wreck.
  • South Africa

NSRI cautions against visiting Bos 400 shipwreck site


Paul Mashatile is expected to replace David Mabuza as the country's deputy president.
  • Politics

Four new ANC members have been sworn in as MPs


  • South Africa

LIVE | Dr Frene Ginwala tribute


Comrades Marathon runners
  • Sport

Comrades Marathon runners happy the race is back to its traditional June date


Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe engaging with the media at the Investing in African Mining Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on February 6, 2023.
  • Business

Govt working on plan to resolve load shedding in the next 12 months: Mantashe


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Three siblings shot dead in Khayelitsha on Sunday
Next Man City’s Mendy pleads not guilty to sexual assault