KZN storms trigger mop-up operations

The KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs department has begun mop-up operations following severe storms that hit parts of the province, including coastal areas in eThekwini and inland areas such as Pietermaritzburg, on Sunday afternoon. Department spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said the storms, characterised by gale-force winds, thunder and hail, uprooted trees, damaged power lines and flooded major roads. Mzila said technical assessments were under way in both regions to determine the full extent of the damage.

He said the department, through the provincial disaster management centre, was working with affected municipalities to restore services and clear debris. No fatalities have been reported at this stage, and a comprehensive update will be provided once technical assessments are concluded. The department’s announcement followed confirmation by the South African Weather Service (Saws) that a short-lived tornado occurred in Bishopstowe on Sunday evening.

According to Saws, a weak storm developed just after 5pm near Bishopstowe and remained mostly in one area. It said the area’s curved landscape may have helped the storm to rotate, with early signs also pointing to possible small hail. Conditions worsened when stronger storms moved in from the west, bringing more wind, moisture, and instability, creating the right conditions for a brief tornado between 5.20pm and 5.40pm. “Monitoring the system became more difficult as daylight faded, with sunset at 5.51pm and changing EUMETSAT satellite imagery making it harder to track finer details in real time,” Saws said in a statement.