Flash flood causes havoc in Margate

A heavy storm and flash flood in Margate last Sunday evening has left behind a trail of destruction.

Doxa church was completely flooded, and Margate Bowling Club, roads and other small businesses were destroyed.

Vehicles which had washed away were recovered in the Nkongweni River; some were stuck in trees and bushes.

The residential area was also hit hard, especially Margate Extension 3.

Nomhle Gwiji, a homeowner in Link Road, said her entire house was flooded.

“There was so much water that some items started floating. We quickly opened the doors, and I took my three children to one bedroom and phoned for help.”

The mayor of Ugu District Municipality, Sikhumbuzo ‘Zero’ Mqadi, said the damage will take time to fix and it will need a lot of money. He also said some sewer pump stations were destroyed and cannot be accessed currently.

“It is devastating that people died, and we don’t know if there are more bodies to recover.”

Mqadi said the Departments of National Disaster and Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (Cogta) were still trying to help them recover from the 2022 floods, and now disaster has struck again.

The DA’s, Chris Pappas, also did an inspection visit.

“We will write to Cogta and put pressure on them to make sure that they fix Margate – and quickly.”

The MEC of the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, spoke to affected business owners on Tuesday this week.

He said his department has come up with a system where every affected business and trader will register and get help from the government.

“Every business is not covered by insurance. We will be on the ground so that we can help them recover and make Margate beautiful again.”

Duma also visited Margate Airport, which was also flooded. His department had contributed R11 million towards the renovation of the airport.

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