KZN disaster management on high alert for possible floods

Disaster management teams in KwaZulu-Natal are on high alert following the weather warning from the South African Weather Service.

The alert indicates that disruptive rainfall which might lead to localised floods can be expected in large parts of the province.

Inclement weather conditions continue to face large parts of our province.

We have received a weather warning from the South African Weather Service which indicates that disruptive rainfall can be expected in large parts of the province today.

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) November 8, 2022

Residents are urged to exercise utmost caution and pay attention to this weather warning. A spokesperson for the provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Senzelwe Mzila says, “Disaster management teams will be monitoring areas that a prone to weather incidents. The MEC has also called upon communities to also ensure that they utilize routes that are safe. We urge people not to cross unsafe rivers and streams,” says Mzila.

These weather conditions pose a risk to human life and threaten to cause a number of disruptions.

We urge residents across the province to exercise utmost caution as the disruptive rainfall could potentially lead to localised flooding in a several areas.

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) November 8, 2022

Teaching and learning suspended

Meanwhile, in Free State, the Department of Education has temporarily suspended teaching and learning at two schools in Bloemfontein due to inaccessible roads following heavy rains.

About 2 000 learners from Caleb Motshabi Primary and Sedibeng sa Thuto are not able to access the schools as roads are waterlogged.

Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba says the department assessed the situation and determined that it would be dangerous to attempt to access the schools.

“We have taken a decision as the department to temporarily suspend schooling and then assess weather patterns from tomorrow. We are then advising parents not to send their children to school because our assessment today suggest that it has become dangerous to access the schools.”

These weather conditions pose a risk to human life and threaten to cause a number of disruptions.

We urge residents across the province to exercise utmost caution as the disruptive rainfall could potentially lead to localised flooding in a several areas.

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) November 8, 2022

Ethekwini, Greater Kokstad, Impendle, Ingwe, Inkosi Langalibalele – Escourt, Inkosi Langalibalele – Sobabili, Jozini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, Maphumulo, Mkhambathini, Mpofana Giants Castle, Mpofana – Mooi River, Msinga, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Ndwedwe, and Newcastle.

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) November 8, 2022

April floods

Earlier this year, heavy rains caused wreaked havoc across the province, destroying, roads, homes, and other infrastructure and claiming hundreds of lives in its wake, with thousands of others displaced.

Aerial view of damage caused by floods, 13 April 2022: