Flood havoc in Johannesburg

07 March 2014 - 16:54 By Sapa
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Westdene Dam. File photo
Westdene Dam. File photo
Image: Sue Olswang

Several areas in Johannesburg are flooded, the Gauteng provincial government said on Friday.

"Co-operative governance and traditional affairs' provincial disaster management centre (PDMC), together with emergency management services (EMS), are working round the clock to respond and offer aid in affected areas," said PDMC head Elias Sithole.

The most affected areas in the province were the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

Temporary accommodation, food parcels and blankets were provided to people displaced by the floods.

"About 70 shacks in the Vusimuzi informal settlement near Tembisa, in Ekurhuleni, were flooded, and about 25 displaced families were moved to the community hall," Sithole said.

The PDMC and the municipal disaster management centre (MDMC) in the area had also cleared flooded roads and school yards in the municipality.

"Blocked stormwater drainages were unblocked and the dammed water was able to flow, relieving the flooded roads."

About 90 shacks in Kliptown, Soweto, had also been flooded due to heavy rains in the area.

"About 200 community members had to be accommodated in the community hall and the PDMC provided blankets to the affected Kliptown community members," Sithole said.

The MDMC would remain on high alert over the weekend because the heavy rain was expected to continue.

Human settlements, co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Ntombi Mekgwe urged people to avoid flood-prone areas.

"Unfortunately, floods are natural disasters and no human being can do a thing to prevent them. The best all of us can do is to work together to offer aid to those in need in times like these", Mekgwe said.

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