By Anita Dangazele
Four people have been reported dead, with four more still missing after heavy downpours hit the province of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday night.
Several roads and bridges in the Durban area, including homes and the city’s famous Gateway Mall, were damaged.
The KZN provincial cooperative governance and traditional affairs department (Cogta) said that in the latest storm, at least two motorists were swept away in their cars and several other residents were severely injured.
“We are concerned that we continue to lose lives through car incidents which we believe could have been avoided,” said KZN Cogta spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi.
Meanwhile, eThekwini municipality closed all beaches in the north, with Umgababa beach being the only beach open in the southern region until further notice.
In the Eastern Cape, seven family members were struck by lightning following the heavy rain.
At least one person died while six others were treated for minor injuries at a hospital in Mbizana in Alfred Nzo municipality.
Scores of people were left homeless after a number of mud houses collapsed. The eMaxesibeni Hospital labour ward was flooded, while a vehicle not far from the hospital was washed away.
Alfred Nzo spokesperson, Lixolile Petela, says a disaster management team was assessing the damage in the area.
Pictured Above: A damaged road in KwaDukuza after heavy rain in the night.
Image Source: @TrafficSA/X
