KZN's Ntuli pays tribute to flood victims in his State of the Province Address

DURBAN - Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has paid tribute to all flood victims who died in the recent floods in the province.
 
Ntuli is delivering his State of the Province Address (SOPA) at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KZN.  

This is the second SOPA since the 7th administration took office in June last year.

READ: KZN's Ntuli expected to touch on natural disasters, crime in his State of the Province Address  

Ntuli started his speech by reflecting on the devastation caused by inclement weather conditions in the coastal province.  

“As a province once against we lost fellow citizens and infrastructure due to heavy rains and floods, recent reports indicate that we lost 11 people.”

A moment of silence was held in honour of the flood victims.

“I therefore Madam Speaker, request that we all observe a moment of silence in their remembrance. May their souls rest in peace - amen."

Meanwhile, 41 families displaced by the recent flood have been temporarily rehoused in emergency accommodations including hotels.

On Tuesday heavy downpours wreaked havoc in the province, resulting in at least 7 deaths and destroying almost 300 homes.

According to authorities five of the deaths were in Lamontvile which was one of the hardest-hit areas.

Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma visited the affected area to aid in clean-up operations conducted by disaster management teams

"With regards to those families who have been affected we can confirm that the MEC Duma has been interacting with the National Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane and we can report that about 41 families have been relocated to emergency accommodations that are hotels that have been identified where the families have been relocated," said Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya.