The EThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal has closed all the beaches in the north and some parts of the southern region of the province due to damage caused by heavy rains on Saturday. The municipality said the heavy rains has resulted in logs and other debris being washed into rivers and the sea affecting beach water quality in the regions.

In a statement, the municipality said this has rendered beaches unsafe for swimming. "All water activities are prohibited in the beaches located in the regions mentioned, however, residents can still enjoy other activities along the beach that do not require coming into contact with sea water," the statement read. Only Umgababa Beach remains open in the south region.

The department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) confirmed that severe thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds, have left a trail of destruction in various areas in the province. "The most significant damages have been reported in the eThekwini Metro, KwaDukuza and Ndwedwe Local Municipalities at this stage. Our Disaster Management Teams responded to a number of calls between 8 and 10 pm on Saturday when the thunderstorm battered the coastal areas, causing severe damage to households, businesses and infrastructure," spokesperson Nonala Ndlovu said. She said that five fatalities have been confirmed under eThekwini Metro, while two people have been reported missing. "Two people died in the Folweni area after a retaining wall collapsed on their structure. Another person was confirmed dead in Umlazi's K Section due to structural collapse. In another incident in Tongaat, two family members died when their shack collapsed on them during the heavy rains. Two more people went missing after floods washed away their informal structure in Tongaat," she added. Search and Rescue Teams, led by SAPS K9 Unit, IPSS Medical Rescue, and Reaction Unit SA, are currently on the ground conducting search and rescue operations.

The heavy rains have also caused damage to water and electricity infrastructure, leaving communities in eThekwini and Stanger without water and electricity. Ndlovu said disaster response teams are working with all affected municipalities and that their social partners are still on the ground providing relief such as blankets, mattresses, and box-B, which contain all the amenities for basic daily use. "In eThekwini Metro, some roads and bridges have been affected, resulting in some roads being completely closed, limiting access to communities, social, and economic facilities. The mop-up operation is currently underway, including the removal of fallen trees, while several roads that were washed away will remain closed for safety," she added.

HUNDREDS DISPLACED

In eThekwini alone, over 250 families are displaced while 300 people were left homeless after the floods in KwaDukuza, under Ilembe Distric. KZN Cogta MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi has expressed her condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones and those who lost homes as a result of the floods. "Our province has been hard hit by yet another devastating flood. We have received reports that schools, roads, and bridges in municipalities such as eThekwini, Ndwedwe, and KwaDukuza have been severely damaged. Teams are on the ground to assess the damage and provide emergency relief to those affected. Disaster management teams are compiling reports to ensure a consolidated government response. We also have law enforcement agencies on the ground, including Road Traffic Inspectorates who are diverting traffic in areas where transport infrastructure has been washed away," she said.