Residents of Coffee Bay, which falls under Ward 24 of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, had a horrendous start to the New Year following heavy rains which led to flooding in the area on New Year’s Day, January 1.
According to the area’s Ward Councillor, Masibusane Msakeni, three small bridges have been washed away by the floods, while another suffered minor damage and has since been repaired by the OR Tambo District Municipality.
The latest floods follow the devastating floods that hit the Coffee Bay area in February last year leaving five people dead, and swept away several homesteads and bridges, as well as a local high school, whose premises were prefabricated structures.
The body of a two-year-old boy, who was one of the victims swept away during the February floods, has never been discovered.
No fatalities were recorded because of the latest floods.
Msakeni says one of the small bridges that have been completely damaged by the latest floods was critical in ensuring that communities could easily access the Zithulele Hospital.
“The three small bridges swept away during the latest floods are Nzulwini Bridge, Zinkawini Bridge, and one that connects to the Hole In the Wall from Sea View Hotel,” said Msakeni.
He further said that there were reports of people who had been displaced due to their mud-structured houses being damaged by the latest floods, but said that the exact number of the displaced and the extent of damages to their homes were yet to be established.
OR Tambo District Municipality spokesperson, Zimkhita Macingwane, appreciated the efforts of police and disaster management teams in ensuring that there were no fatalities during the latest floods.
“Our thanks to the efforts between police and the disaster and risk management team who monitored the high levels of water when the bridges were still flooded, and made sure that no-one crossed the bridges during that period,” Macingwane said.
Msakeni said that a multi-million rand housing project that will see no fewer than 67 housing units built in the area in response to the February flooding disaster was on the cards for the future.
