Latest news with #DisasterManagementDirectorate
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Prospecton infrastructure upgraded for resilience
THREE years on from the devastating April 2022 floods, eThekwini Municipality has transformed the crisis into an opportunity, launching a city-wide reconstruction programme with a focus on Prospecton Road, the Umlazi canal network, and the vital M4 transport route. Also read: Floods hit Prospecton industries hard These vital routes, severely battered during the floods, are now at the heart of an ambitious 'build back better' strategy to create infrastructure capable of withstanding the realities of climate change. Speaking on the progress, Vincent Ngubane, Director of the Disaster Management Directorate, highlighted the shift from emergency recovery to proactive resilience-building. 'Our mission goes beyond emergency response. It's about building a city that is prepared, protected, and proactive. Prospecton Road and the Umlazi Canal are no longer just being restored, they are being transformed into resilient defences protecting our communities and industries,' said Ngubane. He added that Prospecton Road and Umlazi Canal, once overwhelmed, are now being fortified to protect homes, industries, and livelihoods. The M4 highway, a crucial link between Durban and the southern basin, which experienced landslides and washaways, is now being rebuilt to withstand extreme weather events. The newly designed sections feature reinforced embankments, upgraded stormwater drainage, and flood mitigation barriers. Also read: City officials survey storm damage in Umgababa Chief civil engineer in Roads Provision, Linga Govender, emphasised the municipality's adoption of advanced engineering techniques. 'These are not simple repairs. Prospection Road and the M4 are being rebuilt with future disasters in mind. The Umlazi Canal is being widened and reinforced to prevent the kind of catastrophic overflows we witnessed before,' said Govender. The municipality has also placed community involvement at the centre of its recovery strategy, rolling out public education campaigns on disaster preparedness and integrating local knowledge into infrastructure planning. As part of its holistic disaster risk reduction approach, eThekwini is combining infrastructure upgrades with early warning systems, climate-smart urban planning, and community training programmes. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and take part in community preparedness initiatives as eThekwini accelerates its journey towards becoming a climate-resilient metro. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
13-07-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
eThekwini rebuilds flood-damaged infrastructure after 2022 floods
The M4 and M19 corridors, once rendered impassable by the 2022 deluge, are being rebuilt as climate-resilient routes. Three years after the devastating April 2022 floods, eThekwini Municipality is not just repairing its damaged infrastructure; it's reimagining it. The city is rebuilding key roads, bridges, and stormwater systems with a focus on resilience and long-term sustainability. Director of the Disaster Management Directorate Vincent Ngubane said the recovery strategy is rooted in the global Build Back Better framework, shifting from mere restoration to long-term resilience. 'Our mission goes beyond emergency response, it's about building a City that is prepared, protected, and proactive,' Ngubane said. 'These disasters illustrate how various stakeholders can work together to enhance the resilience of eThekwini, ensuring comprehensive support for all.' Key corridors rebuilt to withstand floods The M4 and M19 corridors, once rendered impassable by the 2022 deluge, are being rebuilt as climate-resilient routes. Similarly, the flood-prone Prospection Road and uMlazi Canals are now being fortified to protect nearby homes and businesses better. Shallcross Bridge. Picture: Supplied/ eThekwini Critical bridges, including Shallcross and Coedmore, are also being reconstructed with advanced engineering techniques. 'We are not just reacting to disasters, we are anticipating them, and designing our city to withstand them,' Ngubane added. ALSO READ: Cogta warns municipalities against wasting R1.2 billion disaster relief A smarter, more proactive approach The Municipality's approach integrates early warning systems, community preparedness initiatives, and climate-smart infrastructure planning. Programmes aimed at educating communities about disaster readiness and resilient construction methods have also been launched. Chief Civil Engineer in Roads Provision, Linga Govender, said the new structures are designed with future climate risks in mind. 'These new bridges are engineered to stand the test of time and the changing climate,' Govender explained. M4 Corridor. Picture: Supplied/ eThekwini 'They represent a new era of infrastructure that is smarter, stronger, and safer.' Community participation is at the heart of the rebuilding efforts, aligning with the Municipality's belief that resilience must be a shared responsibility. Ngubane said the structures being rebuilt are not just replacements but are engineered to withstand extreme weather events and rising flood risks. NOW READ: KZN flood victims face eviction crisis as government scrambles for R128m
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Fire devastates Dakota beach informal settlement
A FIRE blazed through Dakota beach informal settlement, Isipingo, in the early hours of this morning, leaving a trail of carnage throughout the centre section of the settlement and displacing hundreds of residents. Also read: eThekwini Municipality clarifies ID requirement at clinics The massive fire broke at around 03:00. According to a resident, Nini Maxhakanwa, whose home is among the rubble, the fire began in one of the shacks nearby Ernest Clokie Road, and by the time emergency services had arrived, it razed shacks around 10m inwards toward the centre of the settlement. eThekwini Municipality Fire and Emergency Services, together with disaster management teams, mobilised swiftly to ensure that no lives were lost in the fire. Among the first responders was station commander Sifiso Mbatha of Prospecton Fire Station, who said, 'When we got here, 30m² of shacks were already burning. Due to the distance from Ernest Clokie Road to the shacks, we had to run all the hoses in the machine. We ran two lines into the fire, one towards the south and one towards the north, so we could contain the fire. We managed to cover all the spheres, but the wind was blowing towards the east, so our main concern was there.' He added that responders had at their disposal three water carriers and four rescue pumpers and more to fight the fire. Mbatha said that all the residents were accounted for and no lives were lost. In a statement issued by the eThekwini Municipality, around 200 informal structures were destroyed, resulting in 300 people, including children, being displaced. 'The fire is believed to have been caused by a burning brazier, commonly known as an imbawula. Onsite humanitarian assistance is being provided by the Municipality's Disaster Management Directorate, in partnership with the non-profit organisation The Gift of the Givers. They are working together to provide support to affected residents with emergency relief, including food, blankets, and other essential items. Displaced families have found temporary refuge with neighbours, friends, and relatives,' it said. Another resident, Jabulani Magwaza, said that by-and-large, residents affected lost everything. 'I only have the clothes on my back. Most of us lost everything. When I saw the fire break out, I went out to help. My home is towards the top of the hill and by the time I got back, my home burnt down as well,' he said. He and countless other residents are working tirelessly to rebuild, from clearing out the rubble, salvaging whatever, if anything, is left and starting anew. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
