Durban — The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has indicated that no fatalities were reported as heavy rains battered parts of the province in recent days.
Cogta MEC Sihle Zikalala said the provincial disaster management centre convened a joint operations committee (JOC) meeting on Monday afternoon to receive situational reports from municipalities on the state of readiness to deal with the impact of the ongoing rainfall across the province.
“The meeting kicked off with the South African Weather Services giving a report on the weather forecast for the week. The report revealed that the rainy weather will subside from Tuesday to Thursday. However, predictions are that the heavy rains will return over the weekend,” Zikalala said.
He said that caution was given that during the next three months ,the province is likely to receive more rain. The disaster teams were urged to remain on high alert to prevent fatalities.
He also said that it was indicated that the provincial JOC would be held daily until the rains have subsided to take stock of any incident that may have occurred. This will provide an opportunity for the province to get a global picture while also identifying areas that might need provincial intervention.
“The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is expecting to receive reports three times daily from the regional managers to ensure that interventions are expedited,” Zikalala said.
He said the District Disaster Management Centres presented preliminary reports focusing on the following aspects:
- the amount of rainfall from their respective areas
- incidents;
- support required/provided to households in distress;
- contingency plans in place to deal with incidents.
Zikalala said that a few incidents were reported from different district municipalities, but no fatalities were reported. The following is a breakdown of reported incidents:
- Ten houses in different wards under uMngeni Local Municipality were partially damaged. The affected households are to be assisted by the uMngeni Local Municipality with plastic sheeting, mattresses and blankets.
- Four households in the Oshabeni area in the Ugu District Municipality were affected, assessments were being done, and relief will be dispatched thereafter.
- One lightning incident was reported in Nquthu Local Municipality and another one in Emadlangeni Local Municipality.
- Ten households in Ndwedwe Local Municipality have been affected, assessments are being conducted, and relief will be provided as soon as the needs have been ascertained.
- Midmar and Henley Dams in Msunduzi Local Municipality are reported to be overflowing, and there is a potential risk to households downstream. The municipality was urged to immediately alert the households that may be vulnerable and to activate evacuation procedures where necessary.
- A mudslide was reported at La Mercy under eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, where 30 to 40 houses were affected or flooded.
“The South African Social Security Agency confirmed that they are ready to assist with food vouchers as soon as they are furnished with the lists of households in need,” Zikalala said.
“The South African Red Cross Society and the Al-Imdaad foundation also indicated that they remain ready to assist if called upon to do so.
“Moreover, the Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs indicated that they are also ready to assist businesses and tourism establishments in distress and appealed to municipalities to indicate if such a need arises,” Zikalala concluded.
Daily News