Clean-up and repair operations were under way in Soweto on Saturday after the area was hit by heavy flooding this week.
”Everything is almost back to normal. There isn’t much happening. We did not have rains yesterday [Friday],” said Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Percy Morokane.
”Construction work is going on for the infrastructure that was destroyed.”
He also said that although sanitation systems had gone down briefly in some areas, the water supply to Dube remained limited. Water pipes were being fixed on Saturday.
Repairs to the bridge in Dube, where taxi driver Olando Chauke (29) went missing after his vehicle was swept away in flash floods, also continued on Saturday.
On Friday, parts of Soweto were declared disaster areas to allow for humanitarian aid to families left destitute by the floods.
Two girls, aged six and 15, died in the floods, while 40 people were injured. Three people, including a 20-day-old baby, were missing. The homes of 200 families were flooded.
Morokane said the search for the missing people had been turned over to the police.
”We are only involved in such operations for 24 hours. Search and rescue after that becomes a police search and recovery [operation]. They have the expertise with the dog unit and the diving unit.”
Morokane said shelter was being offered at the Grace Bible Church and the Dorcas Aid Shelter for people whose homes had been flooded.
However, on Friday a pump had been used to dry out homes that had been flooded and therefore some people were now choosing to stay at home.
Emergency services also had a list of people who were being provided with food parcels and dry clothing.
Morokane said an ”integrated approach” to clean-up and repair operations was under way.
City Parks and PikitUp were clearing the rubble and waste on the streets and in the parks and City Power was on standby if any electricity problems were reported. Emergency services and the city’s community development department were visiting areas to ascertain if any humanitarian assistance was needed. – Sapa