Many areas in the country were flooded because of blocked drains, clogged with green debris and plastic waste.
This has prompted a call from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) for proper waste disposal and for members of the public to do their part and ensure nearby drains are free of any debris.
NDMO director Vasiti Soko called this “a stark reminder for collective effort”.
She also referenced the closure of Rewa Bridge and said all movement restrictions placed on the bridge were lifted after the debris was cleared.
“The events of last night’s (Tuesday) serve as a stark reminder for collective effort needed to tackle the problem of inadequate drainage, particularly in our immediate vicinity,” she said.
“It is essential that we take all the responsibility for ensuring the drains and water channels adjacent are kept clean. These corrective measures will facilitate unhindered water flow, particularly during times of heavy rainfall.”
Ms Soko said a lot of the machinery required to clear the drainage was done yesterday.
“You probably would have seen that as soon as there was daylight, big machineries were deployed to the ground and a lot of this has to do with proper planning.
“As we speak, we are in some conversations with the respective municipal councils to ensure that there is proper disposal of waste and most importantly, the clearing of drains.
“That’s what the teams on the ground are currently doing. And we hope that the lessons learned from here will improve some of the work that we do; that, that is not repeated.”
