KwaZulu-Natal calls for declaration of state of disaster following damaging storms
The Provincial Executive Council Chaired by the Premier Sihle Zikalala, has just concluded a special Executive Council meeting where it received reports on the disaster incidents, the effects of disaster response and interventions from the Provincial Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management chaired by Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka.
Since yesterday on the 11th of April 2022, the Province of KwaZulu-Natal experienced what is one of the worst weather storms in the history of our country. The heavy rainfall that has descended on our land over the past few days, has wreaked untold havoc and unleashed massive damage to lives and infrastructure.
Today, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala retogether with Members of the Executive Council, Members of the Provincial Legislature, Mayors and Councilors, visited different parts of the province to assess for themselves, but also to pay respects to those who have sadly lost their lives in what is now a provincial tragedy.
The assessment so far indicates that many people lost their lives with Ethekwini alone reporting 45 so far, while iLembe District in areas such as Ndwedwe, Kwadukuza more that 14 are reported to have tragically lost their lives.
The disaster has affected all races and sectors of our society in Rural, townships, informal settlements, suburbs and luxury estates.
Today the Provincial Cabinet visited a number of families in the Georgedale and Sankotshe areas where some families lost five members during the rains. Undoubtedly billions of rand worth of damage has been caused to homes, places of work, roads, bridges, electricity and water supply, and other critical government infrastructure. None of our districts have been spared, but the EThekwini Metro has been the epicentre of this disaster with most of the rain and the worst damage.
The municipalities most affected by heavy rains, damaging winds and flooding were Ilembe, Uthukela, uMgungundlovu, King Cetshwayo, Ugu, Ilembe and Umzinyathi. The province has been on high alert following heavy rains that started battering eThekwini since the weekend of the 09th of April 2022. The water level have been rising including the river between Mega City in uMlazi and Lamontville which has been rising.
Some communities adjacent to rivers are still being cautioned to relocate to a safer place and many have been evacuated and are housed in community halls and other areas of safety.
Somerivers in Amawoti and Quarry Heights are also overflowing, and residents are advised to move to alternative accommodation. Stapleton Road in Pinetown was also flooded and motorists were encouraged to avoid it. The Amanzimtoti area has also been flooded and the City’s Roads and Storm water teams were in the area unblocking drains to minimize flooding.
Impact on the Education sector
The weather also affected the delivery of education as several learners had to remain at home as we had to close their schools either because they were damaged, or because access was severely inhibited. More than 140 schools are affected so far by the flooding incidents.
In particular 40 learners and 12educators from Tholulwazi High in Molweni were trapped at school because the bridge they use to cross the river collapsed and the road was washed away by floods. The Grade 12 learners and educators teaching Grade 12 had remained behind for extra tuition on this day.
In light of the above, a special meeting was held by the MECs for the Department of COGTA, Department of Education and the Department of Health to discuss how the affected teachers and learners would be rescued. It was resolved that helicopters will be procured jointly by the Department of COGTA, Department of Health and Department of Transport and Community Liaison. MECs for Education, Health and Transport visited school to bring required resources to support the trapped learners and educators whilst awaiting for the helicopters to evacuate them from the school. This is one of many examples of the destructive effect of this inclement weather but also the extent to which provincial government will go to assist its citizens in need.
In the meantime the province has activated seasonal contingency plans of sectors, province and municipalities have been activated to coordinate multi-sectoral response efforts. Coordination of efforts by all relevant stakeholders is underway focusing on damage assessments, relief and response measures to address the immediate needs from existing arrangements and programmes within affected organs of state across the spheres.
Looting incidents
We also wish to condemn reports of the looting of containers which were affected by the rains as the raging Umlazi River threw them into the N2. We will not allow what is a tragic development in our province to be taken advantage of by criminals. Law enforcement agencies have been deployed and we call on all law enforcement agencies to ensure that all property is protected from criminality and that law and order is maintained during this period.
His Excellency President Ramaphosa visit KwaZulu-Natal
In the light of the extent of the damage to lives and infrastructure, the Provincial Executive Council today resolved to request the classification of the Province as a Disaster area. The Premier has advised the Provincial Executive Council that His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa is to visit the province tomorrow to conduct an assessment and receive comprehensive update on the unfolding crisis.
The province is encouraged by the urgent and positive response of the President and the indications that its request for disaster declaration will be received positively by national government.
Declaring a state of disaster will enable the province to apply for emergency funding from National Treasury and grant authority to reprioritise our current budgets in order to address the reconstruction work necessary to bring the province back to normal.