The heavy, welcome rains in the first week of 2017 also brought tragedy. Two children died when a house collapsed on them in the Haladu area, Nquthu, over the weekend. The children, Bitumelo Khanye (10) and Muzi Sithole (7), were both scholars at Haladu Primary School.
The injured were transported to the CJM Hospital treatment. Three other people sustained injuries, ranging from minor to critical, from the debris as the house was constructed with stones and mud.
Nomsa Dube-Ncube, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, who is also the Political Head of Disaster Management in the province, has activated all the disaster management response teams in the Umzinyathi District to respond to the incidents and conduct assessments across the provinces. Teams have been deployed on the ground to dispatch immediate relief efforts in Nquthu.

“This is indeed a sad start to the New Year for us. Instead of happiness, we found ourselves in mourning. Our joy of celebrating the New Year has been shortened and to sorrow.”

MEC Dube-Ncube expressed her sympathy and heartfelt condolences with the victims of the latest incidents and assures the affected family that government will do everything possible to support and assist in ensuring that they are supported.
“This is indeed a sad start to the New Year for us. Instead of happiness, we found ourselves in mourning. Our joy of celebrating the New Year has been shortened and to sorrow.”
MEC Dube-Ncube has also encouraged municipalities to approach the Provincial Disaster Management Centre for more additional capacity including first line support should the need arise.