MEC urges communities to take precautions against flooding

Officials yesterday visited areas in Umlazi and Chatsworth, south of Durban that were affected by heavy downpours this week.

Flooding has claimed at least five lives, including a Chatsworth woman who was swept away on Monday after a river near Silverglen Drive broke its banks.

MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube says her department's priority right now is providing food and clothing to the victims.

"We know that people are desperate for a roof over their heads but let us not build in the flood places, let us also not build along the rivers.

"Let us listen to the alerts that we always send to people especially people in the low-lying areas. Please avoid those low-lying areas and move away when you need to move away," she said.