uMshwathi Municipality was honoured to host the Honourable Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Thembi Simelane, together with the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Transport, Hon. Siboniso Duma, during their official visit to the municipality.
The visit was prompted by the recent disaster incidents caused by persistent heavy rains that have severely affected several communities within uMshwathi.
The first wave of heavy rains occurred on the weekend of 23 November 2025, resulting in extensive flooding of homes and the disappearance of three community members. One of the missing persons has since been found deceased, while two individuals remain unaccounted for.
Disaster management teams continue with search operations.
A second wave of heavy rains further impacted households in Ward 3 (eFaye) and Ward 4 (KwaZibusele), causing additional damage and stress to residents.
The Mayor of uMshwathi Municipality, Cllr Mandla Zondi, officially welcomed the Minister and MEC. During the briefing session, the Mayor provided a detailed presentation on the incidents, emphasising the immediate needs of affected communities and highlighting the urgent requirement for support and intervention.
Following the briefing, the Minister, MEC, and municipal leadership conducted on site visits to the affected families to assess the extent of the damage first hand. Concurrently, disaster management teams continued with technical assessments to compile formal reports that will guide leadership decisions on emergency relief, recovery measures, and long term support for the impacted communities.
uMshwathi Municipality remains committed to working closely with national and provincial government to ensure that all affected residents receive the necessary assistance during this difficult period.
