The City of Tshwane Mayor Clint Brinks has urged motorists and pedestrians not to try to cross flooded roads and bridges .This come to light aftcer Tshwane Emergency Services rescued a female driver trapped inside her car on a flooded river in Centurion
The car got stuck in the flooded water at Rabie Street in Centurion. The woman was rescued safely to the riverbank and assessed for hypothermia by medical personnel before being transported to a nearby hospital for further care. Spokesperson Charles Mabaso has called on residents to be mindful of areas that are susceptible to flooding, including Centurion and the Tshwane CBD where the Apies River passes up to Hammanskraal and Mamelodi. He also urged motorists not to open roads where law enforcement agencies have placed barriers and to avoid submerged bridges and flooded roads. “Motorists should be mindful of their driving speed and also ensure that their lights are turned on so that they are visible to other road users.’ Mabaso added.
In Johannesburg, spokesperson of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services Robert Mulaudzi said no major incidents have been reported in the seven regions of the city, but the disaster management officials were on high alert for any emergencies. “We are still pleading with our residents to avoid crossing rivers and streams as and when they conduct their daily activities. We urge our motorists to exercise caution and avoid crossing roads or bridges that might be flooded, especially our passenger transport, the buses and taxis. Those are the motorists who mostly give us challenges because they try and force themselves even through areas that are barricaded.”
He has warned religious and traditional groups to stay away from floaded rivers during rainy seasons. Mulaudzi said some people prefer to visit rivers and water streams after heavy downpours for religious purposes which is deadly. “We have got a challenge with our church communities who normally conduct baptisms or rituals when we have wet weather conditions. We are pleading with them to refrain from visiting river streams during this time because there is a danger of them being swept away while they are conducting these baptism rituals as we have witnessed previously when we had rainfalls like these. ”
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management officials said they are monitoring high-risk areas. Spokesperson Charlotter Powell said about 28 incidents have been reported where structural damage occurred due to the wind, including Delft, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Blue Downs, Somerset West, Northpine, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Monwabisi and commercial properties in Strand. “At this stage, the number of structures affected subject to more detailed assessment is 2 779. Reports of flooding were received in Gaba Village, 12 structures in Empolweni, Khayelitsha and approximately 400 structures in Monwabisi with more than 100 incidents of uprooted trees having been reported since Saturday.
Source Zimoja
