MEDIA ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMATHOLE DISTRICT REGRETFULLY CONFIRMS FATALITIES AFTER TORRENTIAL RAINS

ADM HEADQUARTERS, WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY 2023

Following extreme weather alert that predicted heavy rains between 12 and 15 May 2023, indicating a potentially hazardous situation, Amathole District Municipality (ADM) issued a safety warning its communities to exercise caution so as to avert behaviors that could result in death or serious injuries. The alert cited several areas in the province as high risk for torrential rains, among them Great Kei, Mbhashe and Mnquma municipalities.

In Mbhashe Municipality, the damage was mostly collapsing of roads and bridges, with one in Ward 28 at Folokhwe Village, under the Xhora Mouth Administrative Area resulting in a heavy current overflow. Though no fatalities were recorded, a number of community members threw caution to the wind as they were witnessed crossing a quick filling river.

In Mnquma Municipality regretfully three deaths have since been recorded. This, after a motor vehicle (with three occupants, 2 males and 1 female,) attempted to cross an overflowing Khobonqaba small bridge on Saturday, 13 May 2023, was overpowered by the heavy current plunging it down the stream. While one male occupant escaped unscathed, the other two were swept away. Following this incident, a joint rescue mission involving the community, Centane South African Police Services (SAPS) and professional divers, was activated resulting in the discovery of one of the occupants’ body on the same evening. The search continued and on Monday 15 May 2023, the second body of the female occupant was recovered. Still in Mnquma , a third fatality was that of a male body recovered by Centane SAPS on the banks of Ngqongqo River in Cebe Village, while attempting to cross to the other side.

In Great Kei’s Siviwe township, the rains left households flooded and assistance for temporary interventionw has been activated with ther elevant sector departments, among them social development and human settlements. The Amathole District Municipality sends its heartfelt and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased; our disaster teams continue to assess the extent of damages after which corresponding interventions will be formulated, at the back of these unfortunate incidences.

Issued by the ADM Communications and Customer Care Unit.

For media enquiries contact Act ADM Spokesperson Sisa Msiwa Mobile - 079 889 4921 | WhatsApp - 071 215 8257 | Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

#SAVE_WATER #SAVE_LIVES #USE_WATER_RESPONSIBLY

NOTICE FOR COUNCIL MEETING: FRIDAY, 31 MARCH 2023

 Mr M Somana, the Acting Municipal Manager as duly instructed by the Speaker of the Amathole District Municipality (Cllr O. Mgunculu) hereby gives notice, in terms of Section 19(a) of the Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, as amended, that a Council meeting of the Amathole District Municipality as per the approved Calendar of meetings will be held on Friday, 31 March 2023 at 10:00. The Council Meeting will among other items, also consider the Draft IDP and Budget for 2023/2024 financial year. In terms of Section 20(1) of the Municipal Systems Act, members of the public, the media and other interested parties or bodies are invited to attend the meeting.

ISAZISO SENTLANGANISO YEBHUNGA: 31 KWEYOKWINDLA 2023

 Mnu M Somana uMphathi kaMasipala Obambeleyo, njengoko eyalelwe nguSomlomo kaMasipala weSithili iAmathole (uCeba. O. Mgunculu) wazisa, ngokwe Candelo 19(a) lo Mthetho olawula uhlobo lokusebenza kooMasipala, Act 32 of 2000, ukuba intlanganiso yebhunga, yesithili se Amathole ngokuqulathwe kwisikhokelo sentlanganiso sonyaka (Calendar) evunyiweyo iyakubanjwa ngo Lwesihlanu umhla we 31 kweyoKwindla 2023, ngentsimbi yeshumi kusasa (10). Kule ntlanganiso, uMasipala uyakube exoxa ngocwangcisonkqubo olusezakulungiswa (Draft IDP) nohlahlo lwabiwomali lonyaka ka 2021/2022 NgokweCandelo 20(1) loMthetho wooMasipala, uluntu ngokubanzi, iintatheli kwakunye namanye amaqela anomdla ayamenywa ukuba abe yinxalenye yale ntlanganiso.