Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has commended disaster management teams for their quick response after severe storms in uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu.
Disaster management teams provided relief and support to families affected by severe thunderstorms that hit parts of the uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu districts on Friday.
The storms, accompanied by heavy rains, hail and strong winds, partially destroyed over 180 houses.
Provincial Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said: “The hardest-hit area was Mbulwane, Ward 1 of the uMvoti Local Municipality, where 718 people were affected by a hailstorm. Fortunately, no lives were lost in this incident.”
Buthelezi commended the rapid response of disaster management teams who provided immediate support and relief to the affected residents.
Mzila said that under the Mpofana Local Municipality in the uMgungundlovu District, strong winds and heavy rain damaged seven houses.
Buthelezi urged residents across the province to remain vigilant as inclement weather was expected to continue throughout the weekend.
He also commended disaster management teams and social partners for their prompt response to these incidents.
“The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is working around the clock to ensure swift disaster response wherever incidents occur,” Mzila added.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said heavy rains and strong winds left a trail of destruction in ward 1, Emanzamnyama in Nkandla.
Duma said a roving team from the department of human settlements - national and provincial would be assessing the damage and accelerating interventions and a verification process will be speeded up from Sunday to ensure that the needs of vulnerable households are addressed.
“In particular, based on the weather reports we have been receiving continuously from South African Weather Services, we commend the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Nkadimeng for setting up a satellite office in KZN and for deploying a Disaster Management Team,” Duma said.
“This agility will not only strengthen an integrated approach involving three spheres of government but will ensure speed in the delivery of emergency housing and other relief efforts.”
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the uMzinyathi District Municipality alerted the Kranskop community that there was an interruption of power supply that morning, leading to an interruption of water supply.
Additionally, the uMvoti Local Municipality, also on its Facebook page, said the disaster management team under the Mvoti Municipality, which includes Disaster Management & Rescue and Public Works, went to areas affected by the storm and rain in uMvoti and other areas in KZN. This team will visit all the wards in uMvoti where damage occurred to see what assistance is needed that the municipality can help with.
On Thursday, Buthelezi had placed disaster management teams on high alert following a weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service.
The warning had forecasted level 2 for severe thunderstorms over the southern parts of KZN on Friday. The storms were expected to cause large amounts of small hail, damaging winds, excessive lightning and heavy downpours, potentially leading to localised impacts.
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