Ngwathe Local Municipality

16 January 2022

Statement on infrastructure damages as a result of floods.

The Executive Mayor of Ngwathe local municipality, Cllr Victoria De Beer has requested residents to be extremely patient as the technical team continues to respond rapidly to damages on roads, bridges, water purification plants, storm water channels and electrical infrastructure, throughout the municipality, as a result of heavy rains and floods.

Residents are also advised to avoid dams and rivers as they are currently flooded and over flowing and report any incident to respective Ward Councillors, as Councillors are doing ward-based assessment. Parents are requested to guide the kids who will be attending schools in highly affected areas.

In most parts of the municipality, roads and bridges are closed due to floods. In Heilbron, the roads linking town and township are flooded with more floods expected from the upper laying areas of Frankfort road. The R720 road between Koppies and Heilbron has been temporarily closed due to over flooding. In Parys, floods caused damages on roads and bridges including residential properties. Parys water purification plant is currently off due to high sludge in the water. Most of the roads in Vredefort are in a terrible condition due to floods. There are visible potholes in Edenville and other towns as most of the roads are damaged.

The Executive Mayor, the Speaker, all MMC’s including MMC for Public Safety, MMC for Infrastructure and Ward Councillors assisted by municipal disaster management team are monitoring on the ground.

Due to the magnitude of the damages on infrastructure, the municipality is further mobilizing private sector and other government departments to assist with resources, such as construction vehicles and yellow fleet, as part of the Mayoral program of action.

Emergency services: 082 909 3464

#Let’s avoid drowning and disasters! As more rains are expected.

Issued by Ngwathe Communications Unit