Ladysmith hit by floods
2011-01-04 18:23
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Durban - About 50 houses were flooded and the central business district brought to a standstill in Ladysmith on Tuesday, the local municipality said.
"The situation is really bad," said Ladysmith deputy mayor Fana Madlala.
"We are trying to bring the situation to normality. There are two main roads in the city. One of the roads is close to the Klip River and is full of water," he said.
Businesses next to the road have been badly affected because of the floods and some were closed.
The taxi rank in the city has been flooded leading to taxis being moved to another area.
Madlala said in the rural parts of Ladysmith in Roosboom and Drifontein about 50 houses were flooded.
He said areas in the north of Ladysmith were affected with about 20 houses in Roosboom flooded.
Some 20 other houses in Drifontein and about 10 in another close by area were flooded.
Heavy traffic
KwaZulu Natal MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs Nomusa Dube's spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, said the province was experiencing heavy flooding.
"The city of Ladysmith is experiencing huge traffic volume in one of its operational main road," he said.
Mabaso said by 16:23 there were no injuries reported due to the flooding.
"The MEC is on her way to Ladysmith as a political head to assess the situation.
The disaster management team is in control of the situation."
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Willies Mchunu’s spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said most roads in the province have been affected because of the floods.
"We have a delegation that is assessing the situation in the province."
"In northern KwaZulu-Natal in the areas of Nquthu and Nkandla a bridge was severely damaged and vehicles cannot use it," said Ncalane.
He said the team has been dispatched to compile a report on how the department can assist.
More rain expected
SA Weather Services forecaster Lucky Makhwedzha said there were 60% chances of showers in the province.
"On Wednesday and Thursday we expect cloudy conditions with 60% showers," he said.
More showers were expected on Friday, but these will be reduced to 30% in the early morning and no indications of flooding, Makhwedzha said.
- SAPA
