Heavy rains leave four dead, three missing

A body believed to be of a man living in Bhambayi, a section in Inanda, Durban, who was washed away trying to cross the swollen Ohlangee River after heavy rainfall on Sunday night Picture: TEBOGO LETSIE

The heavy rains that battered greater Durban on Sunday afternoon left severe damage to residents' homes in Inanda, Mawoti and Verulam.

Police also confirmed that four people were found dead around Inanda and Verulam, with three people still missing.

Scrap collectors found a man's body on the Ohlange River bank during heavy rains yesterday morning.

Police quickly dispatched members of the search and rescue team to retrieve the body. It is believed that the man was washed away while trying to cross a bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday, Thobile Radebe said the back wall of her rented shack in Bhambayi had crumbled under the force of the water. She said most of her belongings were destroyed but she and her family managed to escape.

The rain delayed flights at King Shaka International Airport and some flights were diverted to Bloemfontein as a safety precaution on Sunday night.

The South African Weather Service said on Sunday night that Durban had had 41.2mm of rain, Margate 98.2mm while Port Edward had 124.2mm.

The weather forecast also issued warnings, saying heavy rains were still expected on the coast with possible flash flooding in low-lying areas.

Yesterday, devastated residents were cleaning their houses in the Bhambayi informal settlement while counting their losses.

"We were always aware that something terrible will happen here when there is rainfall," said Nomandla Mjaja.

She said another man was washed away in December while trying to cross the same bridge over the Ohlange River during heavy rain.

Many children who were affected did not attend school yesterday.

Mathemba Ntshapha was sleeping when his door was pushed open by the floods. "I noticed that the water was covering my bed. But I managed to take out my ID and ran for my life," he said.

Ward 57 councillor Thulani Khunju said committee members were busy collecting information on all the damaged houses.

Khunju said rescue operations were being hampered by residents' refusal to move away from the river bank. "It is very painful to see people's houses being washed away. But we have been asking them to allow a relocation to a safe place while we are still busy building the houses," he said.

- Times Live