Starting on Monday, April 11, a week-long downpour drenched the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province in South Africa. The coastal city of Durban, the third most populous South African City, was hit especially hard. Heavy rain triggered flooding, mudslides, collapsed houses, and strong river currents that swept people away. According to BBC News, it was one of the worst floods ever recorded in the region. Residents of the KwaZulu Natal region are now living in a skeleton of their former hometown. Streets lined with collapsed homes are filled with mud as waves dirtied with debris lap at the beach. While the KZN province experiences one of the “darkest moments” in its history, as described by regional officials, the South African government has been extremely supportive in response. Officials have acted with urgency, allocating resources necessary to build back up ravaged neighborhoods.
According to Reuters, Sihle Zikalala, the Premier of KZN, said the following in a televised briefing: “We need to summon our collective courage and turn this devastation into an opportunity to rebuild our province. The people of KwaZulu-Natal will rise from this mayhem.”
Zikalala recognizes that times of disaster may bring about feelings of loneliness and helplessness. His statement fosters a sense of community and reassures citizens that the government will give them enough strength to recover from this disaster. He speaks of the government and local communities as one – it is “our” province that they are working to rebuild. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also expressed immense and urgent support for KZN residents. As soon as the rains let up on Monday, April 18th, Ramaphosa announced a plan to help communities begin rebuilding their homes. He also declared a nationwide state of disaster in a televised speech, according to Reuters, allowing for a more effective response. Further, Ramaphosa delayed an international business trip to Saudi Arabia,; instead he met with Cabinet members to prioritize creating disaster-recovery plans.
Additionally, the government has funneled significant funds into infrastructure repair work, which will include roads and bridges that were damaged or washed away. Reuters reported that the government immediately assigned 68 million (1 billion rands) for emergency relief, and the finance minister is working to get extra funds. According to ABC News, the estimated total cost of repairs is almost 400 million (5.6 billion rands). Zikalala said that 8,000 homes were damaged, in addition to 4,000 being fully destroyed, reports BBC News. The South African government also reported damage to more than 550 schools and 60 health care facilities. Additionally, water systems were ravaged by the storm. Deputy mayor Philani Mavundla of the municipality encompassing Durban said in a television interview that 80 percent of the city’s waterworks are non-functional. After a visit to areas hit by the storm, Rampahosa said the government would “spare no expense” in helping communities recover from this disaster, according to BBC News.
In addition to a lack of access to resources like water and electricity, residents of this province are grappling with the loss of loved ones. As of April 19th, 2022, ABC News reported 443 deaths and 63 missing people. According to BBC News, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed 10,000 troops for rescue missions. Army troops and their sniffer dogs are searching high and low to rescue washed away community members – some even giving their lives on these missions. However with each passing day, hopes of finding loved ones wane.
The torrential rains that hit South Africa were record-breaking and shattered many people’s lives. The road to rebuilding your home and neighborhood, while coping with the loss of loved ones, is daunting. The South African government’s response has been exceptional in its support of vulnerable communities. The government immediately allocated money for infrastructure projects and sent army troops to aid residents. The province is still in a state of disaster, but the government is working with urgency to obtain resources and build the province back up. Providing a shining example to other nations, President Ramaphosa and other government officials have truly prioritized their residents and ensured their safety in recovering from this storm.
