IMPENDLE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY - KZN PROVINCE

The Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa - (CoGTA) and Premier AT Ntuli - (KZN), today 17 June 2025, led and oversight visit to Impendle Local Municipality. The Minister and the Premier saw first hand the devastation caused by heavy winds that battered Impendle Local Municipality.

The visit follows an inclement weather conditions since 09 June 2025. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued weather warning Level 5 for damaging Winds, from 09 to 10 June 2025. The warning showed: that Impendle Municipality was amongst the municipalities that were to be affected by Level 5 Damaging Winds.

Damage to a significant number of households were reported to Impendle Disaster Management centre.

The early warning assisted and guided the Preparedness Measures, including enhancing public awareness and education.

The inclement weather had a negative impact as strong winds resulted in damages in Impendle Local Municipality.

In response, the multi-sectoral interventions were undertaken in an effort to support the affected communities.

WARDS AFFECTED:

- Ward 1 – Nzinga

- Ward 2 – Mbaliyezwe, Nguga, Qutshini & Swampy

- Ward 3 – Madiphini, Brington, Come & see

- Ward 4 – Kwa-Khetha,Novuka,Nhlabamkho, Willow

- Ward 5 – Gomane, Mbhodlongo, Khamdeni

BREAKDOWN:

- One (01) strong wind; in five wards, (wards 1,2,3,4 and 5)

- A total number of one-hundred and forty (140) households were affected fifty-eight (58) totally destroyed and one hundred and thirty-seven (137) partially damaged structures.

- Nine hundred and sixty-three (963) people were affected during the incident, Sixty- three (63) senior citizen (pensioner),Five hundred and one (501) women, Two hundred and eighty-nine (289) children under 18 years, seven (07) people living with disabilities and four hundred and sixty-two (462) men.

- The Municipality indicated there are thirty-one (31) homeless families, most of which are accommodated by neighbours and family members.

The visit to various households have shown that there many families that are negatively affected by the recent strong winds and require assistance in the area of Impendle Local Municipality. Those severely impacted were given basic food necessities as some have lost almost everything. Minister promised to speak to the Department of Human Settlements to visit Impendle to offer assistance.

Minister urged the NDMC working with other agencies or departments to conduct an assessment to know which areas are affected by which types of natural disasters. Minister indicated that the results of this assessment will ensure that early warning is successful and lives are saved. The result of this assessment will also ensure that people are able to built back better to mitigate the extent of the disasters that happen in particular areas.

CONDOLENCES:

Minister conveyed condolences to the families and the people of KZN over the passsing of two people in EThekwini due to the Inclement Weather Conditions.

In addition, Minister conveyed condolences over the passing of 12 people who perished in a head on collision between a bus and a truck in KZN