LIVE | KZN floods: More bodies recovered!

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has deployed 10 000 troops to flood-hit areas in KwaZulu-Natal.

This was on Thursday revealed by Police Minister Bheki Cele during a Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster briefing.

He said as rescue and recovery efforts continue, more bodies are being recovered around Umzinyathi, Hammersdale, Reservoir Hills, Hamburg and Henley Dam areas.

The SANDF is rendering assistance under Operation CHARIOT, which is a registered effort by the military to provide humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to all South Africans in times of need.

“As we speak, the SA Army is assisting the disaster management efforts and activities that include protection, support to mop-up work, extraction, technical assessments, transportation of humanitarian relief equipment and goods,” said Cele.

20:25

FAMILIES that lost loved ones in the KZN floods say they are grateful for the financial support they are getting.

This comes after it was announced that all affected families will receive R15 000 for the burial of loved ones.

The announcement was made by eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda on Tuesday, 19 April.

Nontobeko Jileka from Hammarsdale, who lost five family members, said: “We are getting a lot of support from our councillor.

For more on the story click HERE

12:21

THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is in the process of identifying state land in KZN to move thousands of people who have been displaced by the floods.

In his address to the nation earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that 40 000 people have been displaced following the devastating floods.

After an assessment visit in the province, Minister Patricia de Lille said the department wants to help the destitute as soon as possible.

She said a list of state-owned land in the urban and rural areas will be provided to the national and provincial departments of human settlements.

De Lille said she toured the flood-hit province together with deputy minister of human settlements, MEC of human settlements, and head of infrastructure from her department to see the extent of the damage in the area.

For more on the story click HERE

12:22

BRETTONWOOD High School is one of the many institutions that didn’t open on Tuesday, 19 April, after the Easter holidays.

This is because it was heavily flooded. It had mud from the gate and throughout the playground.

A total of 13 classes were flooded. Pupils went to school in casual clothes to help clean up.

Grade 12 pupil Farrid Twaolu (17) said the damage meant a delay in their learning.

“I’m so hurt about this. I had left some of my books in the class, and all of them were flooded. This means I now have to rewrite all my notes,” he said.

For more on the story click HERE

06:45

The Department of Basic Education in KwaZulu-Natal says the estimated cost to fix damaged school will in the region of R442 million.

14:22

A WEEK after devastating floods hit Durban, the death toll is standing at 443 with over 60 people still missing.

A two-year-old girl from Ntuzuma, north of Durban, is among the missing.

She went missing after her home collapsed on the night of Monday, 11 April and she was washed away.

The SunTeam tried to get hold of members of the family but they could not be reached due to ongoing network problems in Durban.

Councillor Gloria Mhlongo confirmed that the girl had not been found. She said the family was devastated.

For more on the story click HERE

3:20

The IFP has today donated R250 000 to to the Gift of the Givers in order to assist those that have been affected by the recent KZN floods. 

16:51

The death toll from floods in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province this week now stands at 443, with 63 people missing, the premier of the province Sihle Zikalala said on Sunday at a televised briefing. 

Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams will be on eNCA today at 5:30pm talking about relief measures for small businesses and informal traders affect by #KZNFloods

1:57pm

EThekwini supported by the Members of the SANDF and SAPS Airwing to deliver food supplies to the community of Georgedale.

12:07

The Motsepe Foundation has donated R30 million to flood relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal.

The KwaZulu-Natal floods death toll has risen to 398, with at least 27 still missing, Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka announced on Saturday afternoon. THIS STORY IS STILL DEVELOPING.

15:26

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Premier Zikalala, His Royal Highness, King Misuzulu are attending a prayer session for the victims of floods in Kwazulu Natal. She welcomed on behalf of the government a donation from the Motsepe Foundation of R30 Million which will go toward supporting the flood victims.

KZN HEALTH MEC Nomagugu Simelane reports that at least 58 healthcare facilities eThekwini, iLembe, Ugu, Umgungundlovu, and King Cetshwayo districts were severely affected by the floods – with most buildings suffering damage to their roof, floors and fencing.

"Having conducted a thorough assessment of the damage, we are now finalising internal administrative processes to source funding so that this repair work can commence without further delay. This will be in line with the declaration of a disaster by the President and all relevant regulations." she said.

MORE bodies continue to be discovered in KZN following the devastating floods. 

The death toll has jumped to 395. 

The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KZN, Sipho Hlomuka said they had received information from the South African Weather Service that more rains could be expected over large parts of the province. 

“According to the warning that we have received, damaging winds are forecast for areas along the coast from midday today into Saturday evening. 

“Disruptive rain is also forecast for eThekwini, KwaDukuza, Mkhambathini, Ndwedwe, Ray Nkonyeni, uMdoni and uMzumbe from today until Saturday evening,” Hlomuka said in a statement. 

He said a total number of 40 723 people have been affected by the floods. 

“Sadly the number of fatalities continues to increase with the latest figure standing at 395 fatalities that have been recorded, with EThekwini standing at 355, Ugu 06, uMzinyathi 02, King Cetshwayo 04, Ilembe 28,” Hlomuka added.   

A STATE  of disaster has been declared in KwaZulu-Natal following the deadly floods that hit the province, claiming more than 300 lives.

The declaration was made on Thursday 14 April by  President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala welcomed the declaration and  expressed gratitude to the president  for authorising the request by provincial government to declare a state of disaster after the deadly damage caused by severe storms throughout the province over the past few days.

For more on the story click HERE

On Thursday evening, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala announced that 341 people had died as a result of heavy rains and flooding across KZN.

According to Zikalala, about 40 000 individuals have been affected, and 55 people have been injured.

Zikalala stated that they are still attempting to determine the number of people who have gone missing.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife the 14 crocodiles that were swept away in KwaZulu-Natal during heavy rains have been captured.

Spokesperson Musa Mntambo said it was reported that 12 crocodiles were swept away from a farm near Tongaat, north of Durban.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal announced 306 deaths as a result of the heavy rain and floods.

MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,Sipho Hlomuka stated that members of the KZN provincial executive committee will continue to visit impacted regions to oversee the distribution of help to communities in need.

The MEC of Health, Nomagugu Simelane in KZN has confirmed that the death toll of flood victims has risen to 253. 

AFTER hearing that the Ntuzuma Cemetery was flooded, families whose loved ones are buried there panicked.

Photos of human skulls and bones were circulating on social media on Tuesday, 12 April.

And the posts stated that the photos were taken at Ntuzuma Cemetery, causing panic and scare to those whose loved ones are buried there.

On Wednesday, 13 April, some of the families whose loved ones are buried there went to the cemetery to see for themselves.

For more on the story click HERE

DEATHS, mud slides and collapsed houses were among the horrors seen in Durban on yesterday, 12 April.

After days of rain, the eThekwini area experienced destructive flooding that left at least 45 people dead.

Among the dead were five members of the same family in Hammersdale, three members of a family in Quarry Heights and five people in Inanda.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE