Around 400 residents have been affected by severe flooding in Umshwati, in KwaZulu-Natal’s Midlands, following heavy rains that battered the area on Sunday night. Officials from the national Department of Human Settlements, who conducted assessments on Tuesday, confirmed that nearly half of those impacted are children.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has deployed an emergency housing team to the municipality to evaluate the extent of the damage. Homes, roads and key infrastructure were inundated as rivers burst their banks, leaving families displaced and communities cut off.
Emergency responders recovered the body of a 53-year-old woman who was among three people swept away by surging floodwaters. The search for the remaining two missing individuals is expected to continue on Wednesday. Their cottages were washed away along a riverbank while they were inside.
Department spokesperson Tsekiso Machike said the assessment team will determine the most appropriate support for affected households.
“There are four categories of emergency housing interventions: restoration, relocation, rebuilding and repairs,” he explained. “If relocation is necessary, the municipality will need to identify suitable land for resettlement.”
Disaster management teams remain on high alert as authorities work to restore access, support displaced families and continue search operations.