Key Takeaways:
- Severe weather conditions, including heavy thunderstorms, damaging winds, and hail, have affected parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), forcing hundreds of residents from their homes.
- Over 100 households have been impacted, with approximately 50 homes completely destroyed, and public infrastructure, including clinics and a driving licence testing centre, has been damaged.
- Three people have been injured, and one person is still missing after a vehicle was swept away by flooding in Amanzimtoti.
- The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has dispatched disaster management teams to the affected areas and is providing relief, including food parcels, blankets, and temporary shelter.
- The storms and flooding have caused an estimated R3 billion in damages across KZN in 2024, placing immense strain on the province’s infrastructure budget.
Introduction to the Crisis
The recent severe weather conditions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have caused widespread destruction and displacement, with hundreds of residents forced to flee their homes. The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has reported that over 100 households have been impacted, with approximately 50 homes completely destroyed. The worst-affected municipalities are eMadlangeni, Dannhauser, and Newcastle, where public infrastructure, including clinics and a driving licence testing centre, has also been damaged.
Assessment of the Damage
The KZN Cogta has dispatched disaster management teams to the Amajuba and Umzinyathi districts to assess the damage and provide relief to affected families. The Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is coordinating with social partners and local municipalities to provide immediate relief, including food parcels, blankets, and temporary shelter. According to KZN Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila, three people were injured during the storms on Friday and are receiving treatment in hospital. The number of affected households is expected to increase once final reports are received.
Search and Rescue Operations
Search and rescue operations are ongoing for a missing person in Amanzimtoti after a vehicle was swept away by flooding. The vehicle was carrying five people, with two managing to escape while three were swept away, and two bodies have since been recovered. The MEC Cogta has expressed condolences to the affected families, and teams will not rest until the missing person is found. Mzila has also cautioned residents against building homes near riverbanks or in low-lying areas, which are particularly vulnerable during extreme weather events.
Relief Efforts
Relief efforts are underway, with interim relief being provided through line function departments, including the Department of Human Settlements. Soup kitchens have been set up for the communities that have been affected, and residents are being urged to follow instructions from authorities and municipalities when they instruct them not to build in certain areas. The KZN Cogta is working with Amakhosi (chiefs) to ensure that no one is placed in areas that are at risk of flooding.
Impact on Provincial Infrastructure Budget
The storms and flooding have caused an estimated R3 billion in damages across KZN in 2024, placing immense strain on the province’s infrastructure budget. The amount of money spent on infrastructure as a province is about R3.6 billion a year, and the disasters that continue to occur as a result of climate change are impeding the province’s developmental agenda. Disaster teams are conducting assessments of the current damage, and the MEC for Cogta will make a decision on the interventions required once these assessments are completed.
Ongoing Response
The PDMC remains on high alert as volatile weather conditions persist across the province. Residents have been urged to stay off roads where possible, avoid crossing flooded bridges or walkways, and immediately report any life-threatening situations to local ward councillors or municipal disaster management units. The KZN Cogta will continue to work with social partners and local municipalities to provide relief and support to affected families, and to mitigate the impact of future disasters. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential that residents remain vigilant and follow instructions from authorities to ensure their safety.
