GALE force winds which swept through Durban on Saturday destroying several properties prompted Mayor Zandile Gumede to call an urgent meeting on Sunday morning with ward councillors and the Provincial Disaster Management team as well as community mobiliders, Operation Sukuma Sakhe and Amakhosi to establish the extent of the damage caused by the extreme weather.
“Our joint response and relief team is already on the ground, the mop-up has already begun in areas where roads are blocked and displaced communities are being accommodated in community halls. I want to appeal to residents to be patient as we are responding to each every case that has been reported thus far,” said Gumede.
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Gumede further appealed to religious leaders and individuals to open their places of worship and homes in order to accommodate displaced people.
“We are doing our level best to find alternative accommodation for affected families and as a caring municipality, we call upon everyone to extend a hand and assist those who are in need. Our team that is on the ground and will provide food, soup, and blankets for the affected people. Community halls and centers like crèches will also be used to accommodate displaced people,” said Gumede.
Residents are urged to contact Disaster and Emergency Unit on 031 361 00 00 and the communities can also report incidents via a WhatsApp Number on 073 148 3477. The heavy winds that lashed Durban ripped off roofs, sent trees crashing down and tumbled street poles across the metro.
At the Lacey Road settlement a large tree crashed down on top of four shacks destroying them.
Fortunately no one was injured. Winds of up to 140km/h were recorded at Durban Harbour which was forced to close until the weather abated.
A WhatsApp message which was sent out on Saturday claiming a cyclone had hit the South Coast was confirmed to be fake by the South African Weather Service.
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