Drainage system not to blame for flooding: Durban mayor
eThekwini's mayor has hit back at claims that poorly maintained stormwater drains in the city are what caused the collapse of roads and homes during this week's storm.
"The issue of the drainage system is not the cause of what happened. It's nature. We witnessed that in all areas."
Zandile Gumede yesterday addressed the media on the damage caused by the powerful storm that blasted through parts of KwaZulu-Natal over the Easter long weekend.
Some people have pointed fingers at the municipality, saying aging infrastructure is partly to blame for devastating floods and landslides that crushed homes -- killing more than 65 people.
Several people who lost their homes told Newswatch they had complained many times to local councillors about the drainage systems in their areas, but received no help.
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Gumede says none of the reports they received indicate that the city's systems are to blame.
Mwanwhile, Co-operative Governance MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube says disaster management teams are still trying to establish the extent of the damage following the deadly storm.
She says the latest death toll across the province and including the church collapse on the north coast has climbed to 85 now. Hospitals and schools were among the buildings damaged.
She says the department expects to receive a report soon.
"There has been damage to a lot of infrastructure which includes hospitals. However, they continue to function. It was only Prince Mshiyeni Hospital where a new boundary wall fell. Otherwise, it was the issue of flooding. The assessment on the roads, all the infrastructure is presently being done."
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