THE severe storm that swept through South Durban on Wednesday, 16 March brought with it much-needed rain, but also considerable destruction.
Roads were flooded, houses destroyed and cars were written off as the wind and rain battered the area.
A photo of a car floating in a flooded street of Tara Road in Wentworth went viral thoughout the country, leaving people shocked and angry as some blamed poor road maintenance.
One Facebook user commented that stormwater drains are not being cleared out and so the litter that gets trapped inside causes major blockages. Others who live in the area say this is a common sight.
One Facebook user, A Janet Smith, commented on Gatvol Bluff: “Every time there is a downpour this section on Tara Road at Engen floods like this. It is either blocked drainage or the camber of the road is wrong.”
Bluff beaches were left in a state, with parts of the walkways dislodged and infrastructure damaged. At Ansteys Beach, the paddling pool turned murky brown, when a mudslide was triggered by the downpour. The sight wasn’t much improved at Garvies, where the road was damaged and a large furrow appeared in the beach sand.
Environmental organisation, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance blamed climate change for the torrential rains.
“Extreme weather is steadily increasing with climate change but national government continues to plan for new infrastructure and toxic industry in the South Durban flood plain,” they said in a photo comment.
