Johannesburg - Emergency teams are on standby in Gauteng after the SA Weather Service predicted thunderstorms and possible heavy rains every day for the rest of the week.
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and the Gauteng Department of Co-operative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements say they are prepared for evacuations if necessary.
SA Weather Service forecaster Ezekiel Sebeja said alerts would be put out daily, when necessary, but rain and thunderstorms could be expected every afternoon.
EMS spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said they were monitoring the rain and flood levels in high-risk areas such as Alexandra, Kaalfontein, Klipfontein and suburbs along the Jukskei River.
Besides falling trees damaging properties, and roads being under water, the M2 double-decker highway was flooded on Saturday and a car was washed off a bridge in Buccleuch.
Three people were rescued unharmed after their car was washed off the Perth bridge in Buccleuch on Saturday night after heavy rains, Mulaudzi said.
Also lucky to escape harm was Afzal Mohammed after an oak tree collapsed on his Bez Valley home.
Mohammed said he had been on holiday in Durban with his family when he received a phone call from a neighbour on Saturday, saying a tree had fallen on his roof.
“I had people staying in the house, but they weren’t home. I had to cut my holiday short. I rushed back to see how bad the damage was. It looks like it is only the roof and front wall,” he said.
Johannesburg City Parks employees were at his house on Sunday, cutting the tree down.
The JRA said it had an action plan to deal with floods that severely affected Joburg’s road network and supporting infrastructure.
The city had identified high-flood risk areas that were being inspected for blockages. It had been monitoring low-level bridges and dangerous river crossings, and been clearing debris from under low-lying bridges, said JRA managing director Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
The agency had also established regional standby teams which would be deployed in the event of emergencies, he said.
The emergency plans were co-ordinated by the city’s disaster management task team that consisted of Johannesburg Water, JRA, the metro police, emergency management, social development, housing and urban development. The JRA was also monitoring the SA Weather Service’s warnings of severe weather, including imminent danger of flooding.
“Despite the city’s strategies to mitigate potential disasters during this rainy season, we would like to warn our communities that flooding may still occur. Road users are urged to obey road signs and traffic signals, especially road closures due to flooded bridges or unsafe driving conditions and to avoid speeding as roads are wet and slippery,” said Macozoma.
The Gauteng Department of Co-operative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements said its disaster management centres were on high alert. MEC Jacob Mamabolo warned communities to be extra careful.
In case of emergency, residents must dial 112 on their cellphones or 10177 from a landline.
The Star