Floods devastate South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal

Severe flooding has struck South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, claiming the life of a woman in her early 50s whose vehicle was swept off a bridge in Pinetown, northwest of Durban. Emergency teams recovered her body from a river, while her vehicle was found on Gordon Road in the Sarnia area.

The torrential rainfall has caused extensive damage across the region, with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) conducting "extensive mop-up operations" to assess and address the destruction. Field assessments reveal significant damage to infrastructure including roads, bridges, and electrical systems, with dramatic scenes of heavily flowing rivers, damaged bridges, and water bubbling up through compromised roadways.

Stapleton Road in Pinetown experienced particularly severe flooding, with water levels rising rapidly. Authorities temporarily closed Gordon Road to safely retrieve the victim's vehicle.

The flooding's impact extends beyond Pinetown, with Pietermaritzburg reporting multiple impassable roads, particularly Ohrtmann Road which suffered heavy traffic congestion. In Howick, the R617 was completely submerged, while Mandela Drive in Mpophomeni was inundated with floodwaters extending into taxi ranks, making navigation treacherous for both vehicles and pedestrians. The Mavundla Square shopping centre in Greytown was also reportedly flooded.

COGTA leader Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has issued warnings about additional severe weather expected throughout the weekend. Emergency services spokesman Garrith Jamieson urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stating, "We expect more rains, and people are advised to take precautions."

The current disaster evokes painful memories of the catastrophic 2022 floods that killed more than 430 people and left thousands homeless in the same region, with damage assessments for the current flooding already reaching R3.1 billion according to provincial authorities.