The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is actively assessing the widespread damage caused by the disruptive weather that has swept through KwaZulu-Natal over the past two days.
Mop-up operations are currently underway, with a glimmer of relief as the province has, so far, reported no fatalities.
However, four children were injured when when a school roof was blown away in the Ugu District, a tragedy that highlights the severity of the situation.
The strong winds have wreaked havoc across several areas, but the Ugu District has borne the brunt of the storm, with over 80 households reporting damaged roofs.
Many families have found themselves displaced as the winds left their homes exposed. In a cooperative effort, municipalities, in collaboration with Eskom, have been working tirelessly to restore power, successfully reconnecting many communities to electricity.
Eskom technicians continue their crucial work in repairing the damage caused by the severe weather, with a positive outlook suggesting that most communities could have their power restored by the end of business today.
However, the ongoing inclement weather, coupled with extensive damage and challenging access routes, complicates restoration efforts in several areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Public infrastructure has also taken a significant hit, with interim reports indicating that 68 schools across nine districts have sustained some form of damage.
Ugu District has been particularly affected, with 38 schools suffering from the severe weather. Additional assessments have also taken place in the Mpumuza area under Msunduzi Local Municipality in Pietermaritzburg, where 31 households experienced substantial damage.
As teams continue to offer support and assess the situation, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, remarked on the swift response of disaster management teams.
“Our disaster management teams, working closely with various stakeholders, have responded swiftly to the impact of these severe weather conditions. We acknowledge the challenges faced by affected communities and assure them of our commitment to restoring normalcy as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he stated.
On a positive note, significant progress has been made in clearing snow from roads, with teams working diligently to ensure accessibility.
The N2 and R56 in the far south have been reopened, facilitating relief efforts and allowing Eskom technicians to reach other communities for ongoing power restoration.
As cold weather persists across various regions, authorities are urging communities to prioritise their safety by keeping warm, exercising caution when using fires for warmth, and staying informed about weather alerts.
