HEAVY rain and strong gale force winds resulted in several reports of flooding across the central business district and residential areas of Richards Bay today (Thursday).
Motorists dangerously passed through rising levels of floodwater near the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre and its underground parking lot, as well as on Bullion Boulevard adjacent to Suzuki Zululand.
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Residents further posted pictures of flooding at homes and in various suburbs across the city.
Travelling on the John Ross between Richards Bay and Empangeni was hair-raising for motorists, especially in the vicinity of the eSikhaleni intersection and bridge, owing to large amounts of standing water.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution and slow down especially when approaching Meerensee, as two lanes are completely flooded with water. The wet weather caused havoc on Zululand’s roads in general.
One person sustained minor injuries after a bus and vehicle collided at the intersection near McDonald’s in Empangeni earlier this morning. In another accident, a vehicle overturned on the road between the KwaDlangezwa and eSikhaleni circle.
The cold temperatures follow in the wake of a cold front that moved over the eastern parts of the country on Sunday evening, sustained by the development of a cut-off low pressure system over the southeastern parts of SA.
It is this cut-off low system that is responsible for much of the adverse weather being experienced this week, including the snowfall over Lesotho and the Drakensberg.
uMkhanyakude, eastern Zululand and eastern King Cetshwayo districts were placed on high alert for heavy rain and localised flooding.
People are reminded not to cross swollen rivers and to drive with caution so as not to aquaplane.
The cold weather spell is set to last well into the coming weekend, with temperatures forecast to barely touch 20 degrees across the Zululand region.
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