By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Three people are missing, one dead after the vehicle they were travelling in was washed away in Longacres Drive in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, Kwazulu-Natal (KZN).
One of the passengers from a car that was caught in the floods told Newzroom Afrika that they tried to push the car after it became stuck on a bridge. During the attempt, the strong water current swept away one of the passengers, leading to a tragic death.
A heavy storm swept across parts of south coast and inland, leaving flooded roads and waterlogged shopping centres.
According to a statement released by the Ugu District Municipality, their local disaster management team has been mobilised following the flash floods that brought devastation and tragedy in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, particularly the coastal belt from Margate through to Port Shepstone.
“Sadly, a fatality has been reported.” Significant damage has been recorded to road infrastructure, business premises, malls (including Shelly Centre), and other public infrastructure.
“The Ugu Water and Sanitation Services teams are also on the ground monitoring the water infrastructure, as some pipes may be damaged or washed away.”
The statement indicated that more safety, search and rescue operations were due to continue on Monday, led by Ugu’s mayor, Skhumbuzo Mqadi.
KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi said that provincial Disaster Management teams and Fire and Rescue Services had been fully deployed and were on high alert.
He emphasised that the immediate priority was to ensure the safety of residents and to stabilise the affected areas with urgency.
A yellow level 4 warning for severe thunderstorm, leading to heavy downpours, excessive lightning, strong damaging winds and large amounts of small hail and/or large hail a populated are expected over Gauteng, extreme south- western parts of Limpopo, southern parts of Mpumalanga, eastern parts of North West, eastern parts of Free State as well as the western parts KwaZulu-Natal.
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli is visiting Margate today (December 22, 2025) to assess damage from severe storms that hit the South Coast, disrupting businesses, with emergency teams remaining in the area as weather conditions persist and warnings remain for flooding and lightning.