Flood victims blame poor infrastructure for structural collapses
Negligence and poor infrastructure are being blamed for some of the damage caused during the weekend's torrential rain in Durban and the north coast.
Authorities say eleven people have been killed, including a woman and a four-year-old child who died in a structural collapse in Zwelitsha.
Two victims are missing after their shack was washed away in Tongaat.
A worker based in the Tongaat CBD spent most of Monday morning mopping up water in his flooded workplace.
"This is a recurrence of the April 2022 floods, and the only problem is from that floods the municipality, storm and water division hasn't come out to clear the storm water lanes."
"The whole water lane is all jammed and sludge; eventually, they harden until today. If these lines were cleared, it’s guaranteed there would have been no flooding, but once again, we are in the same situation due to negligence from the municipality."
In Umhlanga, numerous roads have been affected.
A portion of the road on Chartwell Drive in Umhlanga has collapsed outside the entrance of the Spring Glade residential complex.
ALSO READ: Woman, grandson killed in Durban structural collapse
Arthur Linbouris, who is the chairperson of the body corporate, is worried it could get worse.
"I think that there's a strong possibility further damage, structural damage, and parts of the building is starting to collapse. Honestly, my complaint is municipal infrastructure."
A section of the N2 between Hluku and Bongwana in the Ugu District has collapsed.
Sanral says it will take a while for its engineers to fix the road as the damage is extensive.
The roads agency says it will reach out to farmers in the area about building a temporary detour through the farms alongside the highway.
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