Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
7 November 2024 | 11:30 CAT
2 min read

Severe storms have left a trail of destruction across ten wards in Msunduzi, impacting schools and hospitals and causing power outages for many residents. In an interview with Radio Islam, Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla discussed the extent of the destruction and shared the municipality’s plans for recovery and support in the aftermath of the storm.

Mayor Thebolla stated that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) had warned them in advance about the disruptive storms. Despite the warning, the storms caused significant damage, including the roofs of two schools being blown off, a hospital being severely impacted, as well as a block of flats and several homes. In total, around 150 houses were affected, displacing approximately 433 people.

“We are grateful that the neighbours were able to accommodate them and the communities were able to work together on that one. We haven’t yet had an incident where we have had to move people to community halls or other places,” he said.

According to Mayor Thebolla, regarding the schools, the Department of Education will need to handle the situation. But as for the community in Ward 22, a plan is being finalised to build around 198 houses. This will not only assist those affected by the storm but also help relocate other residents in the area to safer locations.

He said that they will now have a clearer understanding of how many people need to be relocated and how many require proper housing within the city. He also noted that they are working closely with everyone and traditional leaders, especially in rural areas, to ensure that future land allocations are made in safe areas for housing. This will prevent situations where people are placed in unsafe locations, which leads to problems, particularly during flooding. “We have to be extra cautious at all times, with where we let our people settle, the weather is not on our side,” he said.

Mayor Thebolla expressed gratitude to the NGOs, such as the South African Red Cross, Gift of the Givers, and Al-Imdaad Foundation, who are always quick to respond when disasters strike. They immediately deploy on the ground to ensure that affected communities receive their basic necessities.

He stated that the provincial government needs to get involved to address the issue of human settlements.

He mentioned that there were also power outages, and they are working with Eskom to ensure the safety of residents, as some power lines were down on the ground. “We believe there might be live wires, so they need to be removed as quickly as possible but then also then to reconnect the community, people cannot go on without electricity for a long time in this day and age,” said Mayor Thebolla.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla, Mayor of the Msunduzi Municipality, here.