Umdloti residents blame new development for flood destruction

“We are sending a voice note from 58 Bellamont Road. We are a whole family with kids and a granny. Basically our whole house is going to be taken soon so we are asking if anyone can come help evacuate us.”

This was the harrowing cry for help from Donald Perry in Umdloti, north of Durban, at 11pm on April 10 as his family's three properties in Bellamont Road were hit by “millions of litres of slurry gushing at a velocity that was unstoppable”.

Many residents of the popular seaside town are blaming a new development, Salta Sibaya, which registered R1bn in sales at its launch, for the destruction that wiped out homes during the KwaZulu-Natal floods this month.

Salta Sibaya developer, Devmco Group, says the accusations are unfounded and that Salta Sibaya’s stormwater management plan was approved by the eThekwini municipality.

58 - the number of homes rendered uninhabitable.

3 - the number of properties Donald Perry's family lost in the floods

—  IN NUMBERS:

Residents have been voicing their concerns on social media, with many posting remarks  that point fingers at the developer.

“In my opinion it is clear that the destruction we have suffered is from the developer across the road,” said Perry. One his family's homes in Bellamont Road is barely standing, one was swallowed by a hole in the ground and the third is unlivable.

Videos of mud and water gushing down the stairs into their living room and kitchen have gone viral on social media.  

“The developer cleared the entire site of all vegetation, leaving sand and dust exposed and it is obvious when it rained this formed a slurry, which gushed down from the dam wall built behind us,” Perry said.

“I am also of the opinion that the safety standards to maintain stormwater were not correctly applied. The water management system could not cope. This created the avalanche of slurry. When this gushing occurred, there was minimal rainfall.”

Perry believes the destruction could have been prevented had the developer tackled the development piecemeal “instead of leaving the entire site exposed to the elements”.

The safety standards to maintain stormwater were not correctly applied. The water management system could not cope - Donald Perry, whose family lost three properties in the floods

Gerhard Botha lives in Surfside, a complex in Bellamont Road where six apartments slid down a cliff and six others have been condemned.

“The destruction was because of the floodwaters and mud coming directly from the new Salta development above and to the west of our complex,” he said.

“The contractor removed all natural vegetation and sugar cane over a massive area, exposing the red topsoil, and by constructing platforms and roads without proper stormwater drainage, subsequently [channelled]  the water instead of allowing it to spread out over the area and to follow its natural flow. The development is on a hill on the north-eastern corner of the Umdloti main road/M4 intersection.”

In response, Devmco Group said in a statement: “Salta Sibaya has an approved stormwater management plan by eThekwini municipality, which the contractor adhered to. This gets regularly audited by environmental consultants.  There were various earthwork structures which were part of the approved stormwater management plan on the site.”

According to the environmental impact assessment (EIA), potential environmental impacts were identified and addressed during the basic assessment process.

“Amendments were made to the proposed lay-out to incorporate recommendations made by the specialists .... regarding the wetlands, CBA (critical biodiversity areas) and ... floodline,” the EIA reads.

“The recommended lay-out incorporates a 26m buffer zone to further reduce the potential impacts to the wetlands and riparian area in addition to the 40m buffer to the CBA.

“The specialist further recommends that all construction activities of the proposed development can occur but must take into cognisance the surrounding watercourses, their associated buffers and  Durban Metropolitan Open Space System areas in which no construction activities should occur.”

Devmco said it was fully compliant with the EIA,  environmental management programme and environmental approvals obtained for the Salta site. “We get audited by independent environmental consultants every fortnight.”

Developers are required by law to ensure the safety of their sites as per legislative requirements throughout the construction phases

—  Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela

The company said it was working “behind the scenes” with the municipality to help clear debris by offering construction equipment and manpower.

The eThekwini municipality said the destruction in Umdloti was a result of new, approved developments in the area. 

“Such developments are in line with the city’s strategic plans adopted by council. Developers are required by law to ensure the safety of their sites as per legislative requirements throughout the construction phases,” said municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela.

“Clearly, during the construction phase, sites are being worked on and the land is exposed.  Once development is complete, planting and landscaping will take place, thus covering exposed areas during the construction phase. All developments are required to go through the EIA process, taking climate change into account.”