Durban — The rehabilitation of digging sites is being conducted by the SANDF deployed under Operation Chariot.
Major Mpho Mathebula said during the search for the missing Mdlalose family members following flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, digging was conducted in front of the house of Wiseman Gumede as it is situated along the Mloshi Stream in Mzinyathi.
Mathebula said it was believed that the bodies of the missing family members would be recovered in the area when the SANDF was approached by the family to assist in the search. The digging site is located 3-4km downstream from the original site of the Mdlalose family house.
The SANDF joined the search on May 22, 2022, and withdrew on July 30, 2022, after having assisted in the recovery of three bodies.
Two of them were recovered during May 23 and 24, while the third body was recovered on June 23, 2022.
Mathebula said when the SANDF started digging on May 22, 2022, Gumede’s driveway collapsed but he authorised the further breaking down of the driveway as it was believed that there might be more bodies trapped in the wreckage.
“In the process of looking for the bodies, we dug into the yard of Mr Wiseman Gumede. What we need to do now is restore the site, as much as possible,” said Major Thembekile Makhiqi of the KwaZulu-Natal Regional Works Unit.
“We believe that we have exhausted our capabilities in this area. We have been digging and searching in the area for weeks and have not been fortunate to recover any more remains, hence our withdrawal.”
Ten members of the family, aged 2 to 43, were swept away while in the house, following heavy rains at about 11pm on Monday, April 11, 2022.
On April 30, six family members were laid to rest in Pietermaritzburg, while the search for the remaining four continued.
At the end of May, Ward 108 councillor Falakhe Gcabashe said the team had not found the children. Instead, they found a leg belonging to one of them.
Gcabashe confirmed that he did receive communication from the SANDF on its withdrawal.
Members of the Mdlalose family, Gumede and Gcabashe were informed of the developments and subsequent decision to withdraw from the search on July 30, 2022.
“Current repair and rehabilitation sites are located in Inanda, Zwelibomvu and Kwandengezi,” Mathebula added.
The SANDF has since concluded repair work along the M4 and an official opening by the MEC for KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka is planned for Friday, August 26, 2022.
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