RESIDENTS of eMdloti have been severely affected by a mudslide as a result of the heavy rains affecting parts of eThekwini Municipality.
On Monday morning, a deluge of mud and water flowed into a home on Bellamont Road and then flooded the basement of a block of flats directly below the property on North Beach Road.
Terry Rens, an eMdloti resident and member of the eMdloti Conservancy said this was a historical problem that needed municipal intervention.
“Residents of eMdloti have banded together to organised sandbags to stop the flow of water and mud into the property on Bellamont Road. It is one of the lowest homes on the road and unfortunately these extenuating circumstances have led to the block of flats, Isikulu being impacted.
Mudslide through Umdloti home pic.twitter.com/iKjmb7j5Fm
— ItsGoingViral (@ItsGoingViral1) April 11, 2022
“Currently the sand and water had flooded the basement trapping a few vehicles there. A development nearby has donated some earth moving equipment to help move the sand, however, municipal intervention is needed. A few years ago they dug a hole in order to deal with the excess flow of water but that hasn’t been sufficient,” she said.
She added the heavy downpours also affect the eMdloti waterworks dam.
Mudslides and mayhem in Umdloti captured by one of the residents… #durbanweather pic.twitter.com/snLWI3fdr2
— ItsGoingViral (@ItsGoingViral1) April 11, 2022
According to the South African Weather Service, significant heavy rains will continue into the evening today in major parts of the province, especially the eastern parts.
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sipho Hlomuka said disaster management teams continue to respond to a number of incidents across the province.
“There was a wall collapse in eThekwini that led to a fatality, mudslides that have been reported in KwaDukuza, flooding of Ladysmith town and road damage in on the south coast. Road diversions are being implemented where possible.
“Local disaster management teams continue to monitor high-risk areas across the province, residents who experience any incidents can contact their respective ward councillor or local municipality,” he said.
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