The Mayor of uMshwathi, Cllr Mandla Zondi, explained that during the floods which occurred on 23 November 2025, three fatalities were reported. These floods were followed by another wave on 29 November 2025, during which no further fatalities were initially recorded. However, the Municipality has recently discovered an additional fatality linked to the floods, bringing the number of affected families to more than previously known.
The newly identified case involves a member of the Ngcobo family in Ward 3 eFaye area , KwaGxusha who had gone missing but was not reported, as the family believed he had travelled to visit relatives in oZwathini.
On Monday, 8 December, hunters walking along the river discovered a body and alerted the police and community members. The deceased was later confirmed to be the missing Ngcobo family member, who is believed to have been swept away while attempting to cross the river on his way to visit his relatives.
The Mayor urged community members to report any missing persons to their Ward Councillors without delay. Prompt reporting ensures that disaster management teams can be activated early, allowing search and rescue units to respond quickly ,potentially saving lives or locating missing persons sooner.
