Freak storm damages schools and houses
uMkhanyakude District damaged by storms
THE KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has dispatched disaster management teams to the uMkhanyakude District on Thursday following heavy rains which swept through the area.
A report on the Zimanga Private Game Reserve north of Mkhuze summed up the situation, ‘The mother of all storms hit us yesterday (Wednesday), pouring down 60mm of rain and hail in two short, but intense bursts.’
The rain, which was accompanied by heavy winds, left a trail of destruction to both public and private property.
About 200 households and the Hlabisa Hospital were damaged.
Dube-Ncube said the incident has come at a bad time as the province continues to battle with the effects of climate change and the prolonged drought.
‘We are all saddened by this disaster as we find ourselves in the midst of the worst drought in 30 years.
‘Mkhanyakude is one of the most water scarce areas in our province and historically it has always been at a disadvantage because of a lack of investment into water infrastructure,’ said Dube-Ncube.
‘We urge people to be on alert and not take risks by building houses in areas that are close to rivers or prone to flash floods.’
