Photo by [Northern Natal News]
The South African government declared a national state of disaster, in line with the disaster management act, as severe rainfall causes floods in multiple provinces in the country. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape are the most affected.
According to the Presidency statement, “These conditions have been brought on by the La Niña global weather phenomenon which occurs in the Pacific Ocean but impacts on a country like South Africa with above-normal rainfall … The presence of a La Niña event usually has its strongest impact on rainfall during the mid-summer months. With the continued strengthening of the La Niña event, the country can expect above-normal rainfall and below-normal temperatures over the summer rainfall areas.”
The declaration comes after the National Disaster Management Centre received reports of floods affecting agriculture, damaging infrastructure such as dams and sewage facilities, roads and bridges, and residential properties.
Last week, the South African Weather Service warned of heavy downpours and localised flooding in certain areas. SAWS predicts the above-normal rainfall to persist as weather patterns suggest it will continue in the upcoming weeks.
Floods in KwaZulu-Natal
The severe rainfall has caused impact flooding in various provinces in the country, resulting in the loss of life, destruction of property and the displacement of people residing in affected areas.
The severe rain has caused the river in Newcastle to overflow, causing a flood which affected many low-lying areas. In some rural parts of KZN, the extensive amount of rain had caused the collapse of multiple homes.
Abed Karrim of the Al-Imdaad Foundation said rescuers, disaster management teams and community forums have been active since last Friday in KZN, specifically in the Newcastle area. He adds that the area’s storm drainage systems are dysfunctional due to the local municipality’s lack of maintenance and upkeep.
Al-Imdaad disaster response teams and others have been evacuating residents from affected areas in Newcastle and getting them to safety. Karrim said on Saturday, approximately 47 families had been moved to the Fairleigh Community Hall just outside Newcastle. This number substantially grew over the past few days.
Karrim said, “The disaster management capacity is not what it used to be in the past. We work with them throughout the country and, more specifically, here in KwaZulu-Natal. They have limited resources, and they have limited interventions. That is where we, as the Al-Imdaad Foundation and other NGOs, come in and assist in the community. Because remember, the government cannot do it alone. That is why we as the community, as the ummah at large, react and go out and make sure that we can assist in partnership with disaster management, in partnership with other NGOs.”
SMread| US-China relations stiff over ‘spy balloon’ accusations
What Happens Next?
What is next for the people who were affected by the floods? Karrim said it’s pretty tricky, given the weather has mostly stayed the same. It is still cloudy and drizzling.
The situation is still quite chaotic in Newcastle. However, first responders informed Karrim that in certain parts of the area, there is an indication the water is receding.
He adds that all the local NGOs and various communities have assisted victims by providing them with meals, clothing and shelter. Later, they will come together to assess the damage to businesses, residential properties and possessions and financially support them accordingly to help get things back to normal.
“I think [it is very important] to understand that NGOs play a huge role. I don’t want to be biassed, but the Muslim NGOs are at the forefront of making sure that there’s a plan in place and a plan that must be also actioned as soon as possible to get all those businesses [and normal life] back on track.”
