Flooding hits Eastern Cape, leaving residents blaming local municipalities

Over 1,200 residents in Nelson Mandela Bay, including children who were forced to miss school, have been evacuated to community halls and churches, following heavy rainfall. The municipality has blamed residents for blocking up stormwater drains with waste materials, while residents in Qumrha, above East London, have criticised the Great Kei municipality for its allegedly slow response to the floods and its lack of investment in drainage infrastructure. Municipality representative Lawrence Troon has urged residents to stop dumping waste, saying that workers could not clear blocked drains in KwaZakele due to cement blocks, rubble and tyres in the way. However, informal settlement resident Zoliswa Gaula says there is no infrastructure to account for runoff in the area, while Ntombovuyo Nongqayi claimed the poor drainage system was not being addressed by the authorities. Meanwhile, Veliswa Dyhobha, another affected resident in Qumrha, said Amathole District Municipality had failed to deliver on its promise to provide more substantial homes to withstand the storms. Municipal spokesperson Ntombizanele Mgema added that the issues affecting the area are the responsibility of the district municipality and the Department of Human Settlements. At the time of submission, the Amathole District Municipality had not issued a response.