The South African Weather Service has lowered KZN’s extreme weather warning issued on Wednesday to a yellow level 2 warning. At least one drowning and other minor incidents such as electricity faults, have been reported because of the rain.

On Wednesday, Saws issued an orange level 5 weather warning over the whole of KZN and an orange level 9 along the KZN coast.

Today, the weather office said scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over KZN.

As a result of prolonged rainfall and significant amounts of rainfall accumulation, the weather service said flooding of roads and settlements, displacement of communities, and danger to life as a result of fast-flowing deep water are expected.

Residents are urged to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams where water is above your ankles, and to take caution when travelling on roads as potholes may be filled with water and sinkholes may develop.

Girl (8) swept off bridge

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has urged communities to continue to heed the weather warning that has been issued for heavy rains that are expected to affect large parts of the province.

In a statement, MEC Sihle Zikalala says disaster management teams have responded to an incident in Pietermaritzburg where an eight-year-old child drowned.

Last night, it was reported that the girl was swept away at Peace Valley 2 bridge after the river flowed over the bridge.

The rain is continuing, and the department says there have been minor incidents that were reported, and their disaster management teams are on the ground attending these incidents.

The department says there are also reports of electricity faults and the Eskom teams are on the ground attending this as and when they are reported.

“We are urging everyone to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from the large bodies of water,” says Zikalala.