KZN seeks SANDF support as devastating storm wreaks havoc

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist communities that have been affected by severe weather conditions.

Heavy rainfall and gale force winds hit different parts of the province at the weekend affecting the northern part of KZN including the community of Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality.

The storm tore roofs off houses and caused damage to infrastructure, including power cables, roads, bridges, and vehicles.

At least six people including children also lost their lives while 14 others were reportedly injured.

ALSO READ: Weather update: What to expect on Tuesday

SANDF help

KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube visited the affected families together with MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Bongi Sithole-Moloi, MEC for Human Settlement, Sipho Nkosi, and District Mayor Siphile Mdaka.

Dube-Ncube said soldiers were need to help communities and residents.

“We have written to the president to ask for permission for resources from the SANDF, particularly the personnel that will help us to clear the roads, debris and sites and help communities.”

Dube-Ncube said quite a number of schools had been affected.

“We’ve asked the Department of Public, Works working with the Department of Education, to ensure that we immediately attend to the schools because we do not want learners to be disturbed especially as they prepare to write exams.”

Burials

Dube-Ncube said the KZN government would be assisting with the burial of those who died in Mtubatuba.

“It definitely will be hard to ensure that all damage is fixed, especially with the financial constraints that government is going through. However, we will be calling on national government to assist with fixing the damage. We cannot say to the national government how much we will need at this point as we are still doing assessments,” she said.

More than 70 houses were destroyed in the Somkhele and KwaMyeki areas, leaving hundreds homeless.

The Provincial government said it would offer socio and psychological support to the affected families and ensure that shelters for the affected families were provided.

ALSO READ: Hundreds still underground in alleged hostage situation at GoldOne Mine in Springs