KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma is set to visit the families of those who tragically lost their lives due to the recent heavy rainfall in the province. Duma expressed his deepest condolences to the families affected by the severe weather, which caused devastation in eThekwini and other parts of the province.
At least six people have died as a result of the torrential rains on Thursday night. A child was swept away while crossing a river in eShowe, while three children were among the victims in eThekwini. In KwaMakhutha, in the south of Durban, three people perished when a wall collapsed on them while they were sleeping.
Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya confirmed that a local NPO, contacted by the victims' families, reached out to the department for assistance. Sibiya also highlighted the department’s swift response to disasters, noting that a roving team had been placed on standby to aid victims.
"We issued a statement in Alfred Duma Local Municipality yesterday morning, informing the people of KwaZulu-Natal that the department was ready to accelerate interventions for disaster victims," Sibiya said. "Unfortunately, after issuing the statement, we were informed of the three fatalities that occurred in the early hours."
MEC Duma is expected to provide an update on the department’s next steps in supporting the affected families during his visit on Friday.