BY MBONO MDLULI
BIG BEND – Residents of over 20 households flooded by the overflowing Great Usuthu River in Mndobandoba, Big Bend, have been advised to avoid staying close to the river.
Acting Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla stated that it was unsafe for residents to remain in the area due to the unpredictability of the river’s overflow. She made these remarks during a visit to the area, also known as Game Five, to assess the situation after heavy rains subsided yesterday afternoon.
Dladla emphasized that the government would collaborate with the Nkilongo Inkhundla Council, under the leadership of Nkilongo Member of Parliament (MP) Sabelo Sibandze, to devise a practical solution for relocating residents to safer areas. She also mentioned involving the Umphakatsi to address the issue. Mndobandoba falls under the jurisdiction of Chief Mshikashika Ngcamphalala.
The acting prime minister urged residents to respect the power of nature, cautioning that defying natural forces could lead to disaster, as evidenced by the recent flooding of their homes. She expressed relief that no lives were lost in this unfortunate situation. Drawing a parallel, Dladla referred to the 2004 Asian Tsunami, where many people ignored warnings of impending danger. She mentioned that elephants moved inland before the tsunami struck, a behavior that could have served as a warning sign.
Similarly, Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini advised residents to relocate to safer areas. He cited a tragic incident in Kenya, where 200 people lost their lives when an overflowing dam caught them unaware at night.
Dlamini acknowledged the emotional attachment residents had to the area, a sentiment earlier highlighted by Siphiwe Dlamini, a development committee member. However, he stressed the importance of prioritizing safety.
Mbongwa Ngcamphalala, a member of the ruling Ngcamphalala dynasty, expressed gratitude to the acting PM for visiting the area and pledged cooperation with the government to address the situation.
Three Members of Parliament (MPs) – Sabelo Sibandze (Nkilongo), Kwanele Ndzimandze (Mpolonjeni), and Sifiso Shabalala (Dvokodvweni) – were present during the assessment. The MPs represented constituencies affected by the heavy rains.
Dladla’s first stop, after the Malindza Refugee Camp, was Malindza in the Dvokodvweni Constituency, where she visited the Pato family. She found three family members living in a dilapidated house at risk of collapsing and promised that a new house would be built for them. At Lubhuku, also in Dvokodvweni, she discovered that rains had damaged three houses from two families and assured them of assistance.
Her next stop was KaShoba in the Mpolonjeni Constituency, where two houses from two homesteads, owned by a Simelane man who had passed away, were also damaged. She promised to provide help to these residents as well.
Finally, Dladla visited Mndobandoba in Big Bend. In all the areas she visited, Dladla distributed food parcels with the assistance of staff from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO).
