KZN declares Thursday day of prayer and mourning
This follows the severe storm that hit the province after the Easter weekend, which badly affected various communities in the eThekwini, Ilembe, Ugu and King Cetshwayo municipalities.
THE KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council has declared Thursday as a provincial day of prayer and mourning to show solidarity with the bereaved families and to pray for people who passed away during the flash floods that swept through the province.
This follows the severe storm that hit the province after the Easter weekend, which badly affected various communities in the eThekwini, Ilembe, Ugu and King Cetshwayo municipalities.
Briefing the media on Monday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu invited all citizens, including inter-faith formations and all sectors of society, to participate in the day of prayer and mourning.
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“The main event will take place at Curries Fountain Sports Field this coming Thursday from 9am. More details will be announced in due course,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu said to date, the number of people reported to have passed away in eThekwini and the neighbouring coastal areas of Ugu and King Cetshwayo Districts has increased to 69.
“The death toll at this point has increased to 69, as [on Sunday] one more body of a young male was recovered in eTshelimnyama near Mariannhill. A total of 64 of those who passed away are from the eThekwini metro and five from the Ugu District,” the Premier said.
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Mchunu said the estimated damage to infrastructure, including railways, roads, houses and furniture, and personal possessions, currently stands at R1.1billion, with the eThekwini damage alone estimated at over R685 million.
“We have recorded a total of 235 damaged private homes in eThekwini and this figure continues to rise as new homes are being added to the list. Many families have been rendered homeless. In addition to displacement, many people’s lives were interrupted by power outages, the majority of which have been attended to.”
The eThekwini metro has also set up a dedicated support desk at the eThekwini Disaster Management Centre for all the bereaved families. The desk includes a hotline 031 367 0094.
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