Storm-hit uMshwathi strengthens resilience, disaster risk prevention
He said communities near rivers, streams and other flood-prone zones remain the most at risk during heavy rainfall.
The uMshwathi Municipality has intensified its disaster preparedness programme, saying it is stepping up efforts to protect vulnerable communities from increasingly severe weather events that have repeatedly caused damage in recent years.
Municipal teams have been deployed across the area this week as part of initiatives aimed at improving disaster management, reducing risk and strengthening community resilience ahead of future weather-related emergencies.
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Speaking to The Witness, uMshwathi mayor Mandla Zondi said the municipality was shifting its focus from reactive responses to prevention.
“Our programmes are focused on preventing illegal settlements in flood-prone, low-lying areas and increasing community awareness so that residents understand the risks associated with severe weather conditions,” said Zondi.
He said communities near rivers, streams and other flood-prone zones remain the most at risk during heavy rainfall.
“In the past years, we have experienced severe inclement weather conditions, leaving a number of communities in limbo,” said Zondi.
Our responsibility is to ensure that we reduce these risks through better planning, improved co-ordination and continuous engagement with affected communities.
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KwaZulu-Natal has in recent years been hit by recurring storms and flooding that have claimed lives, displaced families and damaged infrastructure.
The government has since increased disaster risk reduction efforts, including emergency response deployment, infrastructure repairs and relocations from high-risk areas.
Municipalities have also been urged to strengthen early warning systems and stormwater infrastructure while working closely with communities to reduce impact.
Zondi said uMshwathi would continue working with provincial and national government structures to improve preparedness and coordination.
He urged residents to heed weather warnings and avoid settling in areas identified as high-risk zones, adding that community cooperation remains critical to reducing disaster impact.
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The municipality said the programme forms part of broader efforts to improve service delivery while strengthening protection against the increasing frequency of extreme weather linked to climate patterns.