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Workers assemble a vehicle as operations begin after flooding in April shut down the Toyota South Africa Motors plant in Durban, South Africa, August 16, 2022.
Toyota South Africa Motors has filed a R6.5 billion lawsuit against the eThekwini Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department, claiming damages from the April 2022 floods that severely impacted its Prospecton plant.
In papers filed in the Durban High Court, Toyota is claiming for damages sustained and loss of business.
Toyota’s plant along with other factories in Isipingo in the south of the Durban metro were completely flooded.
Toyota says the three entities failed to maintain the storm water drainage system including the Umlaas canal and a berm.
In court papers, Toyota says it suffered R4.4 billion in damages to equipment and sustained over R2 billion worth of loss in business while the plant was being repaired. Toyota says in court papers the failure to maintain the structural integrity of the Umlaas Canal, a concrete lined canal intended to divert the Mlazi River around the Prospecton industrial area exacerbated flooding in the area.
It says Transnet is the owner of the canal, and was responsible for its management and maintenance, together with the Transport Department. The eThekwini municipality is responsible for the overall storm water management system in the area.
