DURBAN - THE KwaDukuza Municipality estimates that the cost to repair damage suffered in its area as a result of the recent heavy rains and flooding runs into millions of rand.
KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca said: “The huge damages experienced by various communities in the last 72 hours is unquestionably in the millions and has both strategic and economic implications.
“Preliminary reports and information that we are receiving from various fronts indicate that roads and bridges have been severely damaged, most of them collapsed. The stormwater system was exposed to heavy rainfall, making them inadequate and sufficient to manage the amount of water received,” she said in a statement yesterday.
She said there are several provincial roads which have been compromised by the floods and which require urgent attention, including the N2.
“From the latest report on Tuesday, the death toll was five people and ten sustained injuries. These are the known cases. We expect that from the ongoing rescue missions and assessments, we will get to a point where we have a much clearer picture of lives that have been lost as well as the full extent of damage to infrastructure so that we may begin to apply for funding from provincial and national departments,” said Nhaca.
“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to all those who lost their loved ones during this ordeal.
She said the latest report reveals that three people were reported to be missing.
There were deaths recorded in ward 9, 17, 10, 18 and 11 which bring the death toll to five.
She said a dozens of people were displaced in areas including in Shakaville, D-Section, Lindelani, Shakashead, Driefontein, Chris Hani and Ntshawini and in the KwaDukuza CBD.
She added that the displaced were being accommodated in different areas.
She said the electricity grid was hugely disrupted and some areas are still off.
“We are working on one area at a time to ensure that we get the networks back on.
“Our teams are on the ground to ensure that we get everybody back to the grid,” she said.
She also said that there has been extensive damage to the beach infrastructure as well as beaches.
In consultation with service providers and Ski Boat Clubs, the municipality said it had closed all our swimming beaches with immediate effect until it is safe to open up beaches to the public.