KZN premier paints bleak picture after deadly floods

WATER infrastructure repairs and housing the homeless are proving a challenge for officials in KwaZulu-Natal after last month’s floods.

The KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council met this week to discuss developments in the province, and highlight efforts to recover and rebuild.

KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said estimates were the floods had affected 85 280 people with 6 895 being homeless. The death toll was about 448 with 88 people still reported missing and 50 injured.

A total of 27 069 households were affected, with 8 584 houses totally destroyed and 13 536 partially destroyed. The province had 91 places that were being used as shelters. Initially the shelters were 102. These accommodate 7297 displaced people.

The government and social partners provided meals, food packs, blankets, hygiene and dignity packs, and psycho-social support services among others.

In eThekwini more than 100 power substations were severely affected by the floods. Zikalala said all high voltage substations had been restored with some work still in progress on low and medium voltage faults.

In eThekwini, where major disruptions occurred, water supply had improved by 75%-80% in most areas.

“There is still a challenge in some areas. The floods severely damaged the water treatment plant in oThongathi.

“Major repairs in this area are expected to take a few months at an estimated cost of R30 million according to the eThekwini metro engineers.”

Service providers had been appointed for the construction of 1 810 temporary residential units across the province. To date, 77 of these were complete.

Zikalala said progress was slowed by the suitability of land as rebuilding could not take place in some areas where communities were flooded.

Units were being constructed in Molweni, KwaMakhutha and Inanda.

According to a survey by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition at least 826 companies were affected and the cost of the damages was estimated at R7 billion

The rail network in the port area was damaged and would be back into operation by July.