Tshwane rescue team members to help out in KZN
The 23-member team consists of swift water rescue technicians, divers, K9 handlers and an IT technician.
Local Tshwane metro emergency services personnel have been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal as part of an urban search-and-rescue team.
They will form part of the Urban Search and Rescue South Africa (USAR-SA01) team, according to Tshwane metro emergency services department spokesperson Charles Mabaso.
The team will support disaster relief measures, following the declaration of a national state of disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month after heavy rains and flooding in KZN.
Mabaso said acting city manager Mmaseabata Mutlaneng authorised the deployment of the personnel, who immediately left Tshwane to join their fellow USAR-SA01 team members from Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and the Gauteng EMS at Northview fire station.
The 23-member team consists of swift water rescue technicians, divers, K9 handlers and an IT technician.
“They drove to KZN in a 45-seater bus, three 4×4 rescue vehicles with an assortment of search-and-rescue equipment to augment the ongoing search for and recovery of flood victims who are still unaccounted for.
“USAR technicians are versatile and multi-skilled technicians capable of carrying various tasks in disasters and emergencies. The team will remain in KZN as part of extending a hand of humanitarian assistance to the people of KZN.”
Mabaso said the deployment was co-ordinated and funded by the Gauteng provincial disaster management.
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Philani Mhlungu said his department has also availed five members of its emergency medical services team to form part of the USAR team.
He said the Gauteng officials who form part of the USAR team were skilled in deep diving (up to 30 metres), high angle rescue, swift water rescue, skippers, primary healthcare, advanced life support and medical care for K9 dogs, among others.
“We wish the entire team well,” said MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi.
“We hope that the additional resources will help to provide some relief to the various teams that have been part of the rescue operations since last week.”
The USAR team was established to respond to major emergency incidents and disasters both locally and internationally.
It would cost over R187-million to repair the damaged health infrastructure in KZN, according to health minister Joe Phaahla.
This included damage to 23 hospitals, 34 clinics, three community health centres and five office buildings.
Service delivery in six KZN districts was badly hit, namely eThekwini, Ugu, Ilembe, uMgungudlovu, King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude.
Departmental experts, which included engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and construction managers, have however classified the damage to health infrastructure as “moderate” compared to the damages experienced in October 2017 in eThekwini.
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