City tallies damage at R287m after storm
In the wake of the heavy weather that hot Durban on June 27, the City recorded 11 lives lost and 3 031 individuals affected.
INFRASTRUCTURE damage is estimated at a cost of a staggering R287m to the eThekwini Municipality following heavy rains and flooding on June 27 which left a trail of destruction in Durban.
A progress report presented to the Executive Committee highlighted the loss of 11 lives and the widespread devastation inflicted on homes, roads and stormwater systems.
“Since the onset of the rainfall on June 27, assessments have been carried out for 1 019 households, revealing a total of 3 031 affected individuals, including 1 761 adults and 1 270 children. As the situation continues to unfold, more incidents are being reported. The Disaster Management team, in collaboration with humanitarian agencies, the Department of Social Development, and other social partners, has been actively responding by conducting assessments and providing crucial support to those affected. To accommodate displaced individuals, the municipality promptly opened two shelters in Amaoti, Ward 53, CVV Church and Ward 95, housing approximately 500 people,” said the City in a statement.
Municipal departments have conducted thorough assessments of the damaged infrastructure, revealing an estimated repair and rehabilitation cost of R287m.
Amidst the damage to infrastructure across the City, after the heavy rains on June 27, masses of litter and debris washed up in Durban Harbour, at Blue Lagoon and along the coastline. Clean-up operations were still ongoing at Blue Lagoon this week as a mass of debris was collected, while some beaches on the northern coastline were closed due to high E. coli levels.
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Berea Mail visited the Durban Promenade on Monday, July 10 to ask beachgoers what they thought of the heavy weather and clean-up efforts along the beachfront.
Francis Kuhn
“I’m not concerned about E. coli levels in the sea. We have been swimming as a family for months, and no one has been sick. I am more disappointed with the lack of beach cleanliness and clean-ups, especially after the heavy rains. Litter has come down the rivers and pipes, and there’s a lot of litter and debris on the beach. Particularly on Country Club Beach – there’s a terrible amount of litter. I think there were spring tides that week, but I didn’t see any clean-ups during low tide – litter kept getting washed out again.”
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Rashidah Hajee
“I was walking [along the promenade] from South Beach where I stay, and I lost my balance twice because of how bad the wind is. I highly suggest that these beaches need to be closed for safety purposes. I am new in the province, but I heard about the bad weather last week and feel this wind is a continuation of the bad weather. After such bad weather and flooding, I think the beaches should be closed for swimming because pollution from the floods enters the ocean.”
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