The community of Newcastle have been left to mop up the damage after a recent extreme thunderstorm struck the town, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and municipal infrastructure in the Central Business District and other areas.
Due to the heavy downpour, a portion of the Newcastle CBD was completely flooded, causing extensive damage. Affected areas include Ayliff Street, Kirkland Street, Scott and Bird Street, Patterson and Allen Street, and Amcor dam road Umfolozi. On Monday, 11 November, Newcastle Mayor Xolani Dube led a delegation to assess the damage caused by a severe thunderstorm. The Municipality’s Disaster Management and Technical Services teams hit the ground, working diligently to clear debris, restore essential services, and provide assistance to those in need.
Municipal engineers have been inspecting damaged sites to determine the extent of storm-related damages. Dube joined them to see some of the impact first-hand. He said: “I am deeply concerned about the severe weather incident that has affected our city, resulting in localised flooding and damage to infrastructure. As the Mayor of Newcastle, I, alongside Emergency Services and the Municipality Disaster Management Unit, Councillors and municipal officials conducted an on-site assessment of the affected areas. We visited Lagratitude, a home for the elderly, businesses in the CBD, and the Newcastle Taxi and Bus Rank. I am appalled by the devastation and extend my sincerest sympathies to those affected.”
Dube acknowledged that the assessment revealed that the municipality’s drainage systems were overwhelmed, partly due to blockages caused by debris and improper waste disposal. He emphasised the need for regular maintenance of stormwater drains and urged businesses and residents to refrain from disposing of waste and chemicals into the drainage system.
He said: “The severity of the flooding was exacerbated by the inadequate capacity of our stormwater infrastructure. We are working tirelessly to address these issues and ensure that our drainage systems are functioning optimally. As the municipality we have written to the Department of Water and Sanitation requesting intervention and specialised funding to address the problems with the Ncandu River, Amcor Dam and the small rivulets.”
Dube acknowledged the need for improvement in the municipal drainage system. He said: “The floods have caused a lot of damage, but they also prompted us to find new ways to reduce the impact of heavy rains on our residents. It is clear we need to improve the maintenance of our municipal drainage system, because the water levels show that our infrastructure needs to be upgraded to handle such large volumes of water.”
In addition, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs confirmed that MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi swiftly dispatched Disaster Management teams to the Newcastle area.
Disaster Management teams were actively on the ground and have implemented road closures in affected areas for public safety. Assessments are currently underway to determine the full extent of the damage caused by the storm.
This localised incident is set against a backdrop of broader inclement weather conditions for the province. The South African Weather Service forecasted inclement weather across KwaZulu-Natal for the days after the flooding, which includes the potential for heavy rains.
In response to this forecast, Disaster Management teams province-wide were on high alert and closely monitored the developing weather conditions to ensure rapid response capabilities are maintained.
Dube said: “I urge residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their properties. Report any emergencies or storm-related incidents to the Disaster Management Centre. We will do everything in our power to respond promptly and effectively. I would like to thank the emergency services personnel, municipal staff, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to respond to the incident. We will continue to work together to rebuild and restore our city.”
The Disaster Management Centre may be contacted on 034 328 4700 or 079 542 8228.
