Heavy rainfall has flooded parts of Umbilo Road, Sydney Road and surrounding areas, disrupting traffic and renewing concerns over stormwater infrastructure in the area.
Ward 33 councillor Fran Kristopher said flooding had been reported across Umbilo Road, Sydney Road and the lower end of Umbilo, with some stormwater drains struggling to cope with the volume of water.
“We’re now having a lot of flooding across Umbilo Road, Sydney Road, and the lower end of Umbilo,” Kristopher said.
Flooding was reported along both Umbilo and Sydney roads on Friday, while parts of Umbilo, Glenwood and Bulwer were also affected by electricity outages during the severe weather.
Kristopher said some stormwater drains had become blocked by debris, while others had collapsed following infrastructure damage she linked to heavy trucks.
She said she was engaging municipal departments and City management in an effort to address the problems.
The flooding comes as eThekwini remains under a Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall.
The municipality said heavy rainfall could result in localised flooding, traffic disruptions and damage to infrastructure, with emergency services and other frontline units placed on high alert.
The City initially announced a Level 4 warning for Thursday and Friday before confirming on Thursday that conditions had intensified and the warning had been raised to Level 6.
Motorists have been urged to exercise caution and avoid attempting to cross flooded roads, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Concerns about stormwater infrastructure in Umbilo predate the latest rainfall.
The Umbilo Business Association has previously raised concerns about blocked and damaged stormwater drains, particularly in areas carrying high volumes of heavy vehicles.
In 2025, the association warned that heavy trucks could damage concrete drain covers, potentially affecting drainage and contributing to flooding. More recently, the association again raised concerns about what it described as chronically blocked stormwater systems in Umbilo and called for the cleaning and repair of drains in the precinct.
Kristopher said she was communicating with the relevant municipal authorities to address the latest flooding and stormwater problems.
With severe weather continuing, residents and motorists are urged to remain cautious, avoid flooded roads and monitor official weather and municipal updates.
