49 die in Mthatha deluge as authorities mull court action over flood-line homes
At least 49 people are confirmed dead amid fears the number could rise in Mthatha, the Eastern Cape.
Residents were warned as far back as 2013 to vacate homes built on a dangerous flood line.
Floods damaged 20 healthcare facilities and 58 schools across the Eastern Cape this week.
Authorities in Mthatha say they will approach the courts if Decoligny village residents once again refuse to move their homes away from a flood line where a pile of dead bodies was discovered after devastating floods.
Residents in Mthatha village, the epicentre of the deadly Eastern Cape deluge, were warned to move away from the flood line as early as 2013.
On Wednesday evening, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said at least 49 people died in the deluge that engulfed several villages in Mthatha on Tuesday morning.
It is feared the number might rise as many residents remain unaccounted for.
Two helicopters from the provincial health department and police continued their search for missing people on Wednesday afternoon.
King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality Mayor Nyaniso Nelani said numerous campaigns have been held to encourage people to remove their housing structures from the village's river banks.
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'We will speak with the residents again, and if we are not getting along, we will have to do something as the government. This is a lesson for all.
'We ran several campaigns warning residents to move away from the river. Yes, I know it's private land, but we are responsible for saving people's lives. We are thinking now of approaching the courts for a court order to enforce removals from the flood line,' Nelani added.
Resident Mzimkhulu Nondela said residents were warned and told to move their homes away from the river.
'There were floods in 2013, and there was a warning for residents with houses near the river to remove their structures. That did not happen. In 2019, there were also floods; again, people were warned, but that was not heeded,' added Nondela.
Resident Nomathemba Sigonyela said they knew the area was flood-prone and posed a danger to housing structures near the river.
Sigonyela added
Our area is closer to Mthatha for work purposes. We built the houses in that area because we are unable to afford rent in town. Yes, we were warned, but we have nowhere to go.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams said he was concerned about the disregard for municipal warnings 'because once you do that, you run the risk of constructing residential properties in areas that are not suitable'.
'We understand the desperation of community members who want to construct their houses. In my view, that desperation is a rush to the bottom. If the magnitude of the water, as it has been witnessed, was as tall as the houses, it means everyone who is part of the flood line must be removed, of course through consultations,' added Williams.
Graphic: Mihle Mdash/News24
Mabuyane, too, emphasised the importance of residents moving away from the flood line.
The premier said a disaster declaration would be made in due course.
About 20 healthcare facilities and 58 schools were damaged by the floods.
'We are a disaster-prone province. We must get additional resources. A significant part of our population is around the Mthatha area, so it is important that we get more resources for disaster management,' added Mabuyane.
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