By Celani Sikhakhane
- Queen Mawewe donated food parcels to flood victims in Pongola and inspected homes damaged by heavy rains in northern KZN.
- The National Disaster Management Centre declared the floods a national disaster, with 158 households affected and 70 homes completely destroyed.
Floods in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal, left many families without food and shelter. Some children lost their school uniforms when their homes were damaged by the heavy rains.
Queen Sihla kaMdluli, known as Queen Mawewe, visited families in the village next to eMashobeni Royal Palace. Queen Mawewe donated food parcels and other items to several families affected by the floods.
She inspected houses that were damaged by floods and heavy rain.
“We ventured into the community surrounding the palace to deliver the emergency relief parcels to homes that were affected by floods and heavy rains. I felt truly privileged to engage with families who welcome us with smiles and open arms. Their resilience and strength in the face of adversity were genuinely inspiring,” Queen Mawewe said.
KZN has faced dangerous weather since the beginning of summer. Many towns have been affected.
Jozini, a neighbouring town to Pongola near the Mozambican border, was also hit by floods that submerged houses. Heavy rains and flooding affected 158 households, with 70 homes completely destroyed.
CoGTA confirmed that no fatalities or injuries were reported.
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) declared the flooding a national disaster. Dr Elias Sithole, the head of the NDMC, issued the declaration under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act. The declaration followed assessments of storms from late December 2025.
The declaration allows municipalities to reprioritise funding for flood response. This includes rehabilitation of schools, health facilities, public infrastructure, private property and basic services.
The declaration requires government bodies to submit progress reports to the NDMC.
Pictured above: Queen Mawewe inspecting flood-damaged homes in Pongola.
Image source: Zulu Royal Kingdom
