Mpumalanga assesses flood damage

2012-01-19 11:34

Mbombela - Tankers will provide water to Mpumalanga residents after several treatment plants were affected by heavy rains this week, the province's department of co-operative governance said on Thursday.

Residents supplied by the Ntunda, Sibange, Langeloop and Masibekela water treatment plants would be provided with water, said spokesperson Simphiwe Kunene.

Department head David Mahlobo and Nkomazi mayor Thuli Khoza had conducted an assessment of flood damage in Nkomazi, he said.

The areas most affected are Tonga, Block A, B and C, Masibekela, Driekoppies, Mangweni, Steenbok, Naas, and Sibange.

"Fourteen families have been affected and need relocation, while 16 families were affected without needing to be relocated," Kunene said.

All the families would receive food parcels and blankets.

The municipality posted signs to redirect traffic on roads and bridges deemed unsafe after heavy rains on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Kunene said his department would engage with the department of public works and the SA National Roads Agency Limited to repair damage, such as debris and potholes caused by the flood.

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park was also affected, with all gravel roads closed on Wednesday due to flooding, SA National Parks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said.

Camps including Biyamiti, Olifants, Crocodile Bridge, Tamboti and Imbali Concession Lodge were rendered inaccessible by the rising water.

"Lower Sabie and Skukuza are cut off and precautionary evacuations [were] carried out on low lying areas, which include staff accommodation [and] river view chalets," Thakhuli said.

Some guests had to be evacuated to accommodation outside the game reserve.

According to SANParks on Thursday morning, the following camps have been affected:

Crocodile Bridge - camp fine, as water stopped 50m from fence

Lower Sabie - 6 tents had to be evacuated. No units flooded. Water level outside fence

Skukuza - No damage to rest camp. Water on fence line. One house in staff village flooded. Flood damage at Skukuza Nursery

Tshokwane picnic site - flooded

Balule - flooded

Letaba - staff village flooded, camping site, swimming pool  and filling station flooded

Talamati - still cut off due to flood damage

Biyamiti - still cut off. No flood damage

Shimuwini - still cut off. No flood damage

Berg en Dal - fine

All other camps are unaffected.

Access:

Pafuri E/Gate down to Mopani is fine

Mopani – Phalaborwa is fine

Mopani – Letaba is fine

Letaba – Phalaborwa is fine

Letaba – Olifants is fine

Olifants T-junction to Olifants high level bridge is closed

Olifants high level bridge – Satara is fine

Satara – Orpen is fine

Satara –Tshokwane is fine

Tskokwane – Skukuza is closed (High level Bridge fine but full of debris – await clearing)

Crocodile bridge – Lower Sabie – Skukuza is fine

Crocodile bridge is closed

Skukuza – Malelane is fine

Skukuza – Kruger Gate and Phabeni is closed

Phabeni – Kruger gate is fine

Pretoriuskop – Skukuza – closed

All gravel roads South of Letaba River are still closed.

Open gates:

Malelane to Berg en Dal

Orpen to Satara

Numbi to Pretoriuskop

Phalaborwa to Letaba

Phalaborwa to Mopani

Punda and Pafuri

- Are you there and have you been affected? Send us your stories and photos.

- SAPA