By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Heavy rainfall hit the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Sunday night, leaving parts of the Margate CBD, roads and businesses flooded.
Emergency services had their hands full on Sunday night following heavy downpours across the district.
Areas impacted included popular holiday destinations, Margate and Uvongo.
Videos and images widely shared motorists could be seen trying to navigate through flooded roads.
KZN – Margate #KZNStorm pic.twitter.com/foVqdiQX0t
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) April 15, 2024
Kwazulu-Natal Department of Coorperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) have deployed teams to the South Coast following torrential downpours and gale-force winds that battered parts of the coast.
A spokesperson from the department said they had activated disaster teams in all the municipalities that were likely to be affected to be on high alert during this period.
The South African Weather Service issued a level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in eThekwini, Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni and Umzumbe, with damaging winds, lightning, hail and heavy downpours observed along the south coast and Margate reporting up to 140mm.
Residents were warned to be careful or avoid travelling on bridges and roads in low-lying areas as these may be susceptible to flooding and sinkholes.