Flood update in Mpumalanga
22 January 2013
The MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Madala Masuku, sends his sincere condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones during the recent floods in Mpumalanga. The Department is continuing to monitor the situation throughout the province after the recent heavy rains. The rain has stopped and water levels in rivers are expected to stabilise.
However the Department would like to warn residents that even though the rain has stopped and the water levels are stabilising, water flows remain very high therefore residents are urged to be cautious when crossing any rivers and bridges either in vehicles or on foot.
Technical teams from the Province, District and Local municipalities have been dispatched to these areas to conduct an assessment of the damages caused by the rains. Preliminary reports indicate that damages were caused to roads, internal streets, two bridges and many houses were water locked in Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge municipal areas.
The immediate priority is to restore any basic services that may have been disrupted as well to create accessibility in any areas that might have been cut off. The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and local municipalities are already working on the ground to restore these services.
The Department would once again like to urge parents to ensure that children who cross bridges and rivers on their way to and from schools are extremely cautious and use alternative roads where possible.
None of the flooding incidents have affected any of the AFCON preparations and plans for the games taking place in Mbombela.
The Disaster Management teams of the province, district and municipalities remain on full alert.
Contact Persons:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 0824133931
Issued by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
