South Africa: Mpumalanga floods affect water services

Tankers will provide water to Mpumalanga residents after several treatment plants were affected by heavy rains this past week, the province’s Department of Co-operative Governance said today.

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 were Tonga, Block A, B and C, Masibekela, Driekoppies, Mangweni, Steenbok, Naas, and Sibange.

“Fourteen families have been affected and need reallocation, 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 yesterday.

All the families would receive food parcels and blankets.

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.

The Kruger National Park was also affected, with all gravel roads closed yesterday 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.

Source: SABC