KwaZulu-Natal is grappling with a fierce onslaught of weather, from scorching heat to violent thunderstorms and torrential rainfall, wreaking havoc across several towns and cities. The relentless nature of this inclement weather has left destruction in its wake, with widespread damage and significant disruption to daily life.
In response to the ongoing storm conditions, the MEC for the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCoGTA), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has issued an urgent appeal to residents to remain alert as severe weather is expected to continue throughout the week.
As explained by KZN CoGTA, since 3 November 2024, the province has been battered by a succession of violent weather patterns, including heavy rainfall, gale-force winds, hailstorms, and intense lightning. The worst-hit areas include Msunduzi, Mpofana, Newcastle, Okhahlamba, and eThekwini, where communities are facing the full brunt of nature’s fury.
“The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is actively coordinating with affected municipalities to provide necessary support to residents. Assessments in the most impacted areas—eThekwini Metro and the districts of Amajuba, uMgungundlovu, and uThukela—reveal that 458 people have been affected. The severe weather has destroyed 13 houses and partially damaged 90. Tragically, one fatality has been confirmed, and five individuals have sustained injuries,” said KZN CoGTA.
While the exact damage in Newcastle is still to be fully established, the damage has been particularly severe. A roof was ripped off a block of flats on Tagore Street in Paradise on Monday, 4 November 2024, injuring two children.
For more details on the incident, click here.
Relief efforts are currently underway across the affected areas, with coordinated interventions involving a range of stakeholders, including social partners and provincial state organs like SASSA and the Department of Social Development. These agencies are working tirelessly to support affected families during this difficult time.
The impact of the severe weather has also been felt in the education and health sectors. CoGTA reports that 28 schools have sustained damage, and the structural failure of the Ezimbokodweni River Bridge on the N2 has resulted in partial road closures and traffic diversions. Health facilities in uMgungundlovu, uThukela, and eThekwini, including Ntabamhlophe Clinic, Oliviershoek Clinic, McCord Provincial Eye Hospital, and Harry Gwala Regional Hospital, have also suffered structural damage, further straining essential services in the region.
As if this devastation was not enough, further severe weather is expected to strike the area in the coming days.
AccuWeather forecasts thunderstorms to hit Newcastle and Ladysmith on Thursday afternoon, 7 November 2024. While the precise intensity of these storms is still uncertain, residents are strongly urged to remain vigilant, monitor the weather closely, and take appropriate precautions to ensure their safety.
It should be noted, that the Amajuba District Municipality’s Disaster Management Unit has officially unveiled its Summer Contingency Plan. While the contingency plan has only been shared in Blaauwbosch so far, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit said the Summer Contingency Plan was launched with the objective to educate and prepare communities for potential disasters associated with the summer season, including lightning strikes, heavy rains, and thunderstorms.
Amajuba District Municipality Mayor, Cllr Ndabuko Zulu further underscored the significance of the summer contingency plan, and highlighted the municipality’s enhanced capacity to respond to disasters following the completion of the Disaster Management Centre. This cutting-edge facility boasts a 24/7 call centre designed for efficient emergency response.
Additionally, the Mayor announced that the municipality is currently in the process of procuring 60 lightning conductors to be installed in high-risk areas, particularly eMadlangeni (Utrecht) and Dannhauser. This proactive measure, is aimed to bolster safety and mitigate risks during the forthcoming stormy months.
While KZNCoGTA and the Amajuba District Municipality Disaster Management Centre brace for further inclement weather, ER24 Newcastle has noted its readiness for potential disasters linked to inclement weather.
ER24’s Ziyaad Warasally explained that in times when inclement weather impacts Newcastle and other communities, the emergency medical service assists with medical support. “Our emergency care practitioners are trained for search and rescue. Our team undergoes regular training and are also involved with the N3TC Management team that deals with disasters and the Provincial Disaster Management Centre,” began Warasally.
Moreover, he highlighted that due to natural disasters such as flooding in Newcastle and other parts of KZN occurring on an almost yearly basis, ER24 and other stakeholders began making the necessary preparations for inclement weather from May 2024 already.
As the ER24 team is prepared to assist with medical emergencies in times of potential natural disasters, and with further inclement weather predicted to impact Newcastle and its surroundings in coming days, Warasally stressed that Newcastle residents needed to practice extreme caution.
“People often misjudge the depth of water running across roads during heavy rains, and besides the undercurrents which can wash a vehicle away, it is important to remember that roadways and bridges covered in water could pose significant risks, as you don’t know if there are sinkholes or the waterflow has damaged a bridge to the point it is no longer safe,” highlighted Warasally.
Considering this, he urged Newcastillians to not only monitor the weather, but to listen to emergency personnel, law enforcement and weather services when they issue warnings. “I have seen that when there is flooding and people are notified, they go and try to look where the flooding is, and this endangers their lives and the lives of the emergency personnel who are busy at the area,” he explained.
While urging residents to follow cautionary messages from officials, he further stated that if the predicted inclement weather does impact Newcastle and surrounding towns in coming days, it would be safer to stay indoors and avoid travelling on the roads until the weather has subsided.
If severe weather conditions cause further damage and residents require urgent assistance, the following Disaster Management Centres can be contacted for help:
- Amajuba Disaster Management Centre which caters for the Newcastle, Dannhauser and Utrecht areas can be contacted on 034 329 7200.
- uThukela Disaster Management Centre which caters for Ladysmith, Estcourt and Okhahlamba can be contacted on 086 010 4257.
- uMzinyathi Disaster Management Centre which caters for Dundee, Nquthu, Msinga and Umvoti can be contacted on 034 212 2222.
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