Three people have died in KZN on New Year’s Eve as a result of the heavy rainfall experienced yesterday afternoon, which also devastated homes and infrastructure.

In Pietermaritzburg, two people have been confirmed dead and one is still missing after the car they were travelling in was swept away in the Msunduzi River.

According to KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the Msunduzi Emergency Control responded to an incident involving a vehicle with three occupants that was swept away near Henley Dam, following heavy rains around 15:00.

“The floods caused damage to the bridge, resulting in the car being washed away. Search-and-rescue teams have discovered the bodies of two people who were in the car. Search and rescue operations are continuing for the remaining person,” read the statement.

Meanwhile, in Mandeni a brief but intense rainstorm lasting about 15 minutes led to devastation to homes and infrastructure.

“Our response teams have confirmed the tragic loss of a seven-year-old boy, who drowned and was subsequently recovered by the search-and-rescue team. Additionally, numerous houses and road infrastructure sustained damage.

“Our disaster assessment teams are currently on site, working to establish the full extent of the destruction and assess the number of affected people.”

KZN Cogta MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi extended her heartfelt condolences to the families that lost their loved ones.

She has called for a comprehensive assessment of the extent of damages and appeals to families to promptly report missing loved ones in the aftermath of heavy rains.

“It is indeed regrettable that we begin the year on a sombre note, having lost another life due to inclement weather. We call for co-operation between the government and our communities to remain vigilant during such disruptive weather events.

“We also urge community leaders, including izinduna and councillors to assist us to disseminate information about the risks posed by these heavy rains to our communities. We must adhere to safety warnings to minimise the impact of these rainstorms,” she said.

She added that the department’s disaster response teams have already initiated relief efforts for affected families, and they will continue to assess and coordinate with relevant departments to provide assistance to those in need during this challenging period.

“With more rain expected on New Year’s Day, our disaster response teams will remain on high alert. We will provide further updates on the extent of damages once we consolidate all the statistics.”