On 08 April 2022, the South Africa Weathers Service Issued an early warning (and subsequent updates)
whereby disruptive rainfall was to be expected in various parts of the Province due to a cut-off low
pressure system. Early warnings were sent to all Disaster Management Centres and key stakeholders to
ensure state of readiness and to raise awareness to the general public. As forecast by SAWS, the cut-off
the low pressure system generated prolonged heavy rains that impacted all district municipalities within the
Province.
According to damage thus far, the municipalities most impacted are EThekwini, UGu, King
Cetshwayo, ILembe, and UMgungundlovu. However, the damage assessment was still ongoing.
Total number of people affected: Over 116708 were affected, over 550 fatalities were
reported. A total of 105 missing, a total of 6119 were homeless. A total 0f 105 were reported njured.
There was enormous damage to homes, roads and bridges and many poor communities were cut off
from services. Unfortunately, there was a significant number of lives lost being reported.
The government consequently declared the province a National disaster. Several NGOs and business
partners were required to be on the ground to urgently offer relief and recovery services to the devastated
communities. African Global Networks was very grateful to have been selected as one of the
implementing partners under the NLC’s proactive funding responding to this provincial disaster.
African Global Networks as an organization was particularly sensitive to the suffering of poor and
marginalised communities.
From the 10 th of April 2022, African Global Networks spent a full week on ground. We conducted these
sites visits as part of our zooming in and assessing the devastation and urgent needs required to assist
communities to recovery and to build back strong. We surveyed the municipalities of eThekwini, and
Ilembe to understand the full impact of the devastation. During our visit on the ground we found that the
damage was worse than what we could have imagined, we realized that many families had lost
everything. Most of the victims we visited did not have shelter, food, water, blankets, mattresses,
dignity packs for women, and many other challenges were identified during our visits which included the
state of mind challenge from the victims. We noticed that most of the victims needed Psychosocial
counselling support. Children were confused and devastated by these unexpected shocks of flooding.
Many children were roaming on the streets not knowing what to eat or drink because their families had
lost everything and were not able to provide for them.
Our target communities were the rural and informal areas who were living in very difficult circumstances
even before the impact of the floods. These communities generally live from hand to mouth and in times
of severe shocks such as these caused by the incessant rains the communities have lost many valuable
belongings including their poorly constructed shelter. Thousands of people were significantly affected by
the floods and were in need of urgent help to get back on their feet. African Global Networks
responded to the call to support the identified vulnerable families and communities.
African Global Networks began with The National Lotteries Commission KNZ Emergency Support
distributions drive at Ndwedwe Local Municipality in their community Hall on the 29 th of April 2022
and at Mandeni Municipality, Sibusisiwe hall on the 6 th of May 2022. African Global Networks
continued with The National Lotteries Commission at Msinga Local Municipality in Tugela Ferry on
the 10 th of May 2022 and at Umvoti Municipality, Zakhele Sport Grounds, on the 11 th of May 2022.
We focused on the most affected vulnerable families from the list provided by Municipalities.
We managed to reach over 500 beneficiaries (Ndwedwe Local Municipality) and 400 (Mandeni Local
Municipality) 300 beneficiaries (Msinga Local Municipality) and 300 (Umvoti Local Municipality)
on the day with our support by giving affected families’ food groceries, blankets, water tankers, warm
meals, Jojo tanks and school shoes. The beneficiaries showed a great appreciation to The National
Lotteries Commission and African Global Networks for the emergency support provided to them.
It was touching to see our beneficiaries including children collecting food groceries and extra
support in essential relief items, that inspired our organisation to understand the impact and the
importance of these relief and essential services.
We were so humbled by the support we got from the National Lotteries Commission; every cent
made a big difference to a certain household member. We as African Global Networks
organisation have witnessed that food insecurity is a reality for many South African households.
The food groceries, school shoes and warm meals that we provided, saw many
households through these difficult times of food desperations and especial during one of the
the greatest pandemic of our time which is Covid 19. The response and appreciation from the
household’s families was so evident and touching. Many people cried, because they had nothing
and nowhere to ask for food. Some started with disbelief till they realised that the food was for
them and their families, some of the children danced and started singing as we were offloading
food for them.
