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Mangaung announces contingency measures for flood affected Bfn residents

───   PULANE CHOANE 14:23 Fri, 15 Feb 2019

Mangaung announces contingency measures for flood affected Bfn residents  | News Article
Photo for illustrative purposes only

After two days of heavy rain, the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has finally broken its silence on what many in Bloemfontein, Free State, have labelled as a disaster owing to the localised floods which many experienced in the city.


Spokesperson of the municipality, Qondile Khedama, said in a statement that the heavy rain and floods have put a strain on the drainage system because of high volumes of water. This comes after OFM News reported yesterday many in the city have questioned the functioning of the city’s storm-water drains as well as why, leading up to this announcement, the metro had not issued communication on measures to be taken as outlined in its Disaster Management Plan. OFM News’ Pulane Choane reports that he further revealed that a Joint Operation Committee has now been established to provide support to those areas in the city which were and continue to be affected by these floods.

One of the tasks of this committee is to ensure that affected families have access to the municipality halls, which will become dens for shelter. In the meantime, such affected residents are not left destitute. He further said that the metro has added more traffic officers on the roads to regulate traffic flow, as the various intersections have also been affected by load-shedding, causing traffic lights to malfunction. Local ward councillors will also be assisting affected families by providing them with access to nearby municipal facilities.

Meanwhile, Khedama said roads which have been the most affected by these floods are the Dr Belcher Road in Heidedal, the Batho intersection in Batho township, the corner of Parfitt and Nelson Mandela in Brandwag, as well as the Fort Street subway in the Central Business District where a woman was rescued earlier this morning after the subway was flooded. Both motorists and pedestrians are urged to avoid these roads and use alternative routes. “We are also urging households to open/make pathways out of their yards to allow for free flow of water to avoid flooding,” Khedama said. The municipality will also be availing heavy plastic covers for leaking roofs and inflatable canoes where there’s a need for rescue services. Residents are urged to call 051 406 6660 or 051 409 9600 in cases of emergencies.


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