THREE years on from the devastating April 2022 floods, eThekwini Municipality has transformed the crisis into an opportunity, launching a city-wide reconstruction programme with a focus on Prospecton Road, the Umlazi canal network, and the vital M4 transport route.

Also read: Floods hit Prospecton industries hard

These vital routes, severely battered during the floods, are now at the heart of an ambitious “build back better” strategy to create infrastructure capable of withstanding the realities of climate change.

Speaking on the progress, Vincent Ngubane, Director of the Disaster Management Directorate, highlighted the shift from emergency recovery to proactive resilience-building.

“Our mission goes beyond emergency response. It’s about building a city that is prepared, protected, and proactive. Prospecton Road and the Umlazi Canal are no longer just being restored, they are being transformed into resilient defences protecting our communities and industries,” said Ngubane.

He added that Prospecton Road and Umlazi Canal, once overwhelmed, are now being fortified to protect homes, industries, and livelihoods. The M4 highway, a crucial link between Durban and the southern basin, which experienced landslides and washaways, is now being rebuilt to withstand extreme weather events. The newly designed sections feature reinforced embankments, upgraded stormwater drainage, and flood mitigation barriers.

Also read: City officials survey storm damage in Umgababa

Chief civil engineer in Roads Provision, Linga Govender, emphasised the municipality’s adoption of advanced engineering techniques.

“These are not simple repairs. Prospection Road and the M4 are being rebuilt with future disasters in mind. The Umlazi Canal is being widened and reinforced to prevent the kind of catastrophic overflows we witnessed before,” said Govender.

The municipality has also placed community involvement at the centre of its recovery strategy, rolling out public education campaigns on disaster preparedness and integrating local knowledge into infrastructure planning. As part of its holistic disaster risk reduction approach, eThekwini is combining infrastructure upgrades with early warning systems, climate-smart urban planning, and community training programmes.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed and take part in community preparedness initiatives as eThekwini accelerates its journey towards becoming a climate-resilient metro.

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