KZN emergency services ‘on full alert’ amid warnings of heavy rain

Zikalala gave an update on the provincial government’s efforts to recovery efforts during a media briefing on Thursday.

Last month’s devastating floods in parts of KZN claimed the lives of 448 people.

Some 88 people are also still missing.

Zikalala said South African Weather Service has issues a warning for this coming weekend.

“We are advised that if KwaZulu-Natal receives an additional 20mm of rain there is a potential for flooding, as the ground may still be saturated following the recent heavy rains. We have been advised to expect snowfall and freezing temperatures.

“The executive committee will, through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs under MEC Sipho Hlomuka, put all our disaster teams on full alert.”

Zikalala urged residents to practice extreme caution.

“We appeal to people to be careful as they use self-heating mechanisms, including gas heaters. We have barely recovered from the recent floods and many areas and infrastructure are still vulnerable, and we need to do everything possible to avoid disasters in rapid succession.”

A similar warning of extreme weather condition has also been issued for Johannesburg this weekend.

“This drop in temperatures means that our residents throughout the City of Johannesburg will be tempted to use all sorts of heating devices to try and warm themselves against these extremely cold temperatures in the process making themselves vulnerable to fire incidents at home,” says the spokesperson for the city’s emergency services Robert Mulaudzi.

“We therefore would like to urge all our residents to use all heating devices safely.”

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