[Photo source: News24]

KwaZulu-Natal residents have been warned of further disruptive downpours and thundershowers expected to hit most parts of the province.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said that severe flooding of roads and settlements can be expected in coastal areas. Over the last couple of months, a sizeable amount of flooding has caused destruction to numerous properties across KZN.

Dr Hope Hangwelani, Town Planning Expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said that from a town-planning perspective, there are issues surrounding the land use plan management. “One of the problems is that people are building houses in areas prone to flooding and another issue is the functionality of our drainage systems and where they are located within our city, this is all very important to address and improve on,” she said.

Hangwelani is concerned about the infrastructure maintenance issue.

Challenges will always exist with development, especially when our city is not risk-informed. But Hangwelani believes we need to look at designs that can handle flooding, such as permeable pavements, water collection systems or green zones.

“Another thing is that education about climate change and the use of infrastructure plays a critical role in some of the affected areas,” says Hangwelani.

In a recent article, Hangwelani commented that ‘town planning should be left to town planners and not politicians, but often the advice from town planners are disregarded’.

According to Umgeni Water, the Mthwalume Raw Water Abstraction System, which supplies water to the uMzumbe and uMdoni Local Municipalities under the Ugu District, has endured damage, due to the heavy storm over the past weekend.

The damage to the Mthwalume System has affected the supply of water to the following areas in the uMzumbe and uMdoni Local Municipalities: Elysum, Bazley, Ifafa, Koelwater, Sezela, Mthwalume Urban, Qoloqolo, Nomakhazana, Sibanini, Bhekulwandle, Mfazazana, Sihlonyaneni, 26, Arnold Lushaba Hospital, Nkambini, Bhunwini, Makhoso, Bangibizo, Dembese, Mathulini, Nyangwini and Mgangeni.

Hangwelani stressed that we need to look into the issues surrounding risk-informed cities and water designs in our planning going forward.

KZN citizens in affected areas have been urged to take precautions and prioritize their safety.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml. Junaid Kharsany and Dr Hope Hangwelani, Town Planning Expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, here.