Amanzimtoti residents appeal for eThekwini intervention amid floods

Residents of Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, whose homes have been flooded following disruptive rains in KwaZulu-Natal, are calling on the eThekwini Municipality to intervene.

About six families are unable to access their homes due to a blockage caused by earthworks allegedly dumped during the development of the area.

Affected resident 74-year-old Ntombi Ntshembeni says for the past three years they have been calling on the authorities to clear the blockages, but their plea fell on deaf ears.

“Our councilor only appeared recently and has made efforts to pump out the water. However, the pumps only worked for two days and made no significant difference. The councilor then promised to bring a tractor to help alleviate the situation. Unfortunately, our neighbors can no longer access their homes due to the flooding. We urgently request that a tractor be brought in to help clear the water.”

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements says it has identified pockets of land to build houses for the victims of the recent floods in the eThekwini Municipality.

Dozens of people have lost their homes following heavy rains which caused localised flooding. The floods resulted in the deaths of 11 people.

The department’s spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says all spheres of government are working together to help affected families.

“In and around eThekwini there are 12 pockets of land that have been identified, where we are going to be building houses, permanent houses for the affected families. We talking about more than 4000 families that are going to be accommodated, 4400 sites. We were there this morning inspecting some of the sites that have been identified, unfortunately, towards the end of last year, the contractor was chased away by the community, the MEC Siboniso Duma said we need to have a meeting with the community, together with the mayor so that we can resolve some of the issues that have raised.”

VIDEO| KZN residents appeal for help to drain water away from their homes after floods