By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs has confirmed that three more people have died as more heavy rains and incidents of flooding hit the province, bringing the death toll to 43.
The Harry Gwala, Umgungundlovu and Umzinyathi districts were most affected by the floods, with teams providing disaster relief and working with search and rescue teams.
In the area of Thelaphi near Dundee, under Umzinyathi District, a man died after his vehicle was washed away while attempting to cross the flooded bridge.
In the Umzimkhulu area under Harry Gwala District, a vehicle was washed away in Cabhani River with two occupants. The search and rescue teams responded to the incident and recovered the vehicle. Both occupants had passed away.
IPSS Search and Rescue alongside Umhlali SAPS K9 Search and Rescue and CERT KZN were able to rescue three people, were found to have not sustained any serious injuries.
Reports of flooding at Lighthouse Mall, Umhlanga Boulevard near Gateway Theatre of Shopping and the Virginia Airport were also reported.
Ward 35 councillor Nicole Bollman reported that certain roads had been closed due to damage and flooding, and numerous houses were left without water and electricity as a result of the floods.
She added that residents had reported low water pressure in Umhlanga Ridge and that, this time around, the area has been severely hit.
“We are concerned that we continue to lose lives through car incidents which we believe could have been avoided. We are appealing to motorists and pedestrians to refrain from crossing swollen rivers,” said KZN Cogta MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi.
“As rains continue, most of the rivers are already overflowing. Low-lying bridges pose a serious threat where water runs above them. We would like to plead with all people who are travelling to wait until the water level drops.”
“We can avoid some of these fatal incidents if we exercise caution by not putting our lives at risk by trying to cross flooded bridges. Our disaster teams, working together with all affected municipalities, are continuing with their assessment. We have engaged with other departments to offer the relevant assistance to the affected families.”
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) expects scattered showers and thundershowers but in the western and northern of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.
“With more rains expected in different parts of the province, our disaster teams will remain on high alert,” said Sithole-Moloi.
Meanwhile, one person has lost his life after being struck by lightning while his other six family members were treated for minor injuries at the hospital in Mbizana under the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
Elsewhere Johannesburg emergency services on Sunday continued the search for the Joburg woman who was swept away by flash floods.
The woman was driving on Rivonia Road, near Witkoppen, when the vehicle she was travelling in was swept into the Sand River.
The vehicle was located, but the woman was missing and suspected to have been swept down the river in the flash floods on Friday evening.