KZN’s heavy rains expected until Wednesday

KwaZulu-Natal residents have been warned to stay alert as more rainfall is expected across the province until Wednesday, particularly in the northern part.

The provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) said disaster management teams will continue to monitor the rainy weather conditions. 

This comes after the South African Weather Service issued a level 6 alert for King Cetshwayo and Umkhanyakude municipalities, while other municipalities in the eastern parts of the province are on a level 2 alert. 

Cogta spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said persistent rain may lead to roads, bridges and formal and informal and settlements flooding, as well as disruptions to essential services such as water, electricity and communication.

Many parts of the province experienced rainfall from Sunday night and throughout Monday.

Mngadi said having closely monitored the rain since Monday, their disaster management teams have not reported any major or serious incidents.

He said the only impact has been on traffic flow, particularly in the eThekwini metro, where some roads had to be temporarily closed due to flooding. 

“The team will continue assessing the situation in the coastal district where rain has been pouring since Monday. As rains continue, residents are advised to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where the water level is above ankle height. The disaster management teams and the joint operation cluster will remain on high alert to monitor the situation across the province,” he said. 

Residents were also urged to adhere to the instructions issued by municipalities and law enforcement agencies regarding road closures due to flooding. 

Mngadi said municipalities likely to be affected have taken precautionary measures, including preparing evacuation plans, such as public buildings as safe havens in case people need to be evacuated.

“Residents in low-lying areas are advised to move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level. We also appeal to all residents to postpone non-essential travelling as some roads are flooded during this period.” 

On Monday, eThekwini's head of disaster management and emergency control, Vincent Ngubane, delivered a briefing to the executive committee in a special virtual meeting to outline the city's proactive response to heavy rains throughout the municipality.

On Monday night the city said Ngubane reported that at the time of his report, there had been no reports of fatalities, injuries or missing or displaced individuals. 

“Over the past 12 hours eThekwini received approximately 44.6mm of rain, primarily affecting the southern region of the city and causing significant waterlogging on several roads. Residents seeking information on the affected routes can find a comprehensive list on the municipality's social media pages,” said the city. 

eThekwini said it mobilised metro police and disaster response teams to address reported incidents, with other teams remaining on high alert to address potential evacuation needs.

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