Media statement: KwaDukuza mayor perturbed by flash floods

KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca is perturbed by flash floods which continue to batter public and private infrastructure.

 

At least 100mms of rainfall was measured in KwaDukuza on Saturday, 13 January 2024 by midnight. One fatality was recorded, and several other people have been displaced. Mayor Nhaca this morning, dispatched teams of experts in the built environment to recount the physical extent of the damages.

 

“I firstly wish to extend my deepest condolences to the family who lost their loved one during this ordeal on Saturday midnight. We are aware that there have been several others who were displaced but we are working on facilitating aid for these families. We are anxious, and indeed recounting the extent of the damages incurred. We are also calling upon communities to avoid low laying bridges and areas that have been flooded to avoid more fatalities. These heavy rains have not only ravaged infrastructure but have disrupted municipal services and we wish to extend our apology to consumers and the KwaDukuza community at large. 

 

Restoring livelihoods and dignity

 

Our teams have been out since last night where they have been rescuing families under life threatening situations, and they continue to make physical assessments and providing immediate relief.

There are efforts to restore electricity supply in the affected areas, to clear public roads and to unblock storm water drains. 

 

We hope for a rapid recovery but obviously this will require interventions of various organs of state and this will include Public Works, Transport and the Department of education in the main as we look forward to re-opening schools this week. We will push for a speedy reconstruction of affected roads and other infrastructure so that the economy can move again.

 

As part of the physical assessment exercise, we will be working closely with other professionals, ward councillors and other sector departments. This inclusive and integrated assessment process will be done to ensure that all affected areas, infrastructure, and communities are part of KwaDukuza Municipality’s Disaster reports which will be required by the Provincial and National Government. We will further request that the municipality be declared a disaster area in order to trigger the required disaster financial support. 

 

By virtue of being an affected municipality in the province, KwaDukuza is expected to compile its business plan which will be informed by the disaster assessment outcome that will be completed before the end of this week by Friday, 19 January 2024. The assessment report and business plan will then be submitted to the both Provincial Disaster Management Centre and National Disaster Management Centre for consideration.

 

So far we can recount the following data on the huge damages experienced by various communities in the last twenty-four (24) hours:

·      Several roads and bridges have been severely damaged, most of them collapsed in totality.

·      Our storm water system was exposed to the heavy rainfall, making them inadequate and sufficient to manage the amount of water received.

·      Our electrical infrastructure had been compromised and most areas experienced outages which in some areas took over 12 hours to be restored. We are also receiving reports from various areas about outages leading from yesterday’s event.

·      Most communities who reside along, floodplains and low-lying areas were the ones who were severely affected.

·      There are a number of private properties that have been damaged by the subsequent flooding from both poor to the most affluent communities.

Electricity outages

 

Our electricity grid was hugely disrupted by the weather conditions and the following areas were affected particularly in the north of KwaDukuza:

 

1. Industrial substation - transformer 1 blown cable termination back-fed all consumers

2. Doesburg section off-line patrol is underway 

3. Yellowood Road cable fault contractor is at site

4. Charlotsdale was off but most customers are back on

5. Gledhow south isolated blown jumper was repaired

6. High Rigde cable fault contractor is repairing 

7. Farid street cable fault contractor is repairing 

8. Lot 16 burnt link Siya will repair 

9. Groutville market single phasing artisan is dispatched 

 

Please note we have a lot of single calls which might clear after we energize most areas.

 

Food security and aid

 

We have already begun talks with various government departments to ensure that they too come on board to assist with humanitarian aid, this includes, access to medical care, documentation, and food security. We will be communicating further details on how to donate.

 

We wish to thank our disaster management team for working into the night to ensure that our communities were assisted. We also wish to thank volunteers and all stakeholders who played a role in our course to ensure everybody’s safety. We further call our communities and residents to play their part in preventing flooding within their properties by ensuring that they clear their own storm water pipe-lines, they prevent foreign objects including trash from entering the stormwater system, and that they take note of daily weather notices published in various government and media platforms”, said Nhaca.

 

Ends

 

Issued by the office of the mayor of KwaDukuza

Enquiries: Sphe Ngobese | 073 784 7822