A week after KwaZulu-Natal was hit by another flood disaster, a plane carrying clothing, food and medical supplies donated by Qatar arrived at King Shaka International Airport in Durban. 

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor, Department of Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala were at the airport to receive the humanitarian aid.

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“We are grateful today to the Qatari government for lending a hand and offering humanitarian support to the people of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa… This friendship and this humanitarian aid softens the blow and warms the hearts of the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” said Zikalala.  

Addressing the media on Sunday, 29 May, Qatar’s ambassador to South Africa, Tariq Ali Faraj, said the donation included “hundreds of tents, generators, ventilators, water purifiers, clothing [and] blankets”. 

This evening, a cargo plane carrying humanitarian aid by the State of Qatar, which comprises foodstuff, clothing, and medical supplies arrived at King Shaka International Airport in @eThekwiniM received by 🇿🇦 Government leaders and the 🇶🇦 Ambassador to South Africa #Flooods pic.twitter.com/E3fANN3KjR

— NationalCoGTA (@NationalCoGTA) May 29, 2022

Zikalala confirmed that three people had died during the latest flood disaster, which came just six weeks after the floods that wreaked havoc in the province. This brings the combined death toll to 459 people, with 88 still reported missing, the premier said. 

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“As we gather here today, many parts of our province are still reeling from the great loss and pain of devastation caused by two flood waves in rapid succession in April and May 2022. The waves of floods have caused substantial and heart-wrenching damage. Many people have lost their loved ones,” said Zikalala. 

Damage to public infrastructure in the province stands at R25-billion. Businesses have incurred damage estimated at R7-billion.  

“These costs exclude new ones emanating from the May floods,” Zikalala said, adding that about 45,000 people are temporarily out of work as their places of employment are not operational after the floods.

“Extensive work is under way to restore basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and waste removal,” he said. 

The contribution from the Qatari government “will help lighten the burden of meeting the humanitarian needs of over 4,000 citizens housed in community care centres”, Zikalala said.

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Work has begun on building temporary residences for affected families on “state-owned land parcels” that have been identified in the province for possible resettlement, the premier said. “We are following the principle of ‘building back better’ that takes into consideration risk-averse planning and development which starts to factor in the impact of climate change on how we plan and live.”

Addressing the media on Sunday, 29 May, Zikalala said houses would be rebuilt “within suitably located areas. We are implementing measures to protect the residents from such adverse weather events in the future.”

Only 131 temporary residential units have been constructed so far, he said, with damage to roads in the province hindering rebuilding efforts.

“The N2 towards uMgababa that was damaged and made it difficult to access areas in the South Coast, was reopened on Friday [27 May]. We successfully constructed an emergency lane in a period of seven weeks. 

Construction of the N2 north of Durban after the Gateway interchange was “progressing well and we anticipate opening the closed lane in the next two weeks or earlier”, Zikalala said.

Weather Warning: string damaging winds are forecast for tomorrow Monday, 30 May in areas along the coast of the province. Affected areas are EThekwini Municipality KwaDukuza @mandeni UMfolozi Municipality Ray Nkoyeni UMdoni Local Municipality UMlalazi Municipality. pic.twitter.com/bFxzzgpYMu

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) May 29, 2022

The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 2 warning of strong and damaging winds that could strike the coastal areas of KZN on Monday, 30 May. The affected areas will be eThekwini, KwaDukuza, Mandeni, uMfolozi, Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni and uMlalazi. DM

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