The KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department has urged municipalities to enforce by-laws that prohibit people from building their homes near rivers.

This follows heavy rains in New Hanover in the uMshwathi Local Municipality in the province’s midlands on Sunday night.

Flash floods swept away three people and damaged homes as well as roads. On Monday, rescue teams recovered the body of a woman.

The department has confirmed that seven districts across the province are affected, with uMshwathi being the hardest hit.

“We must agree as government that we need to enforce bylaws now on a much stricter level because even the people, where they have built, the municipality had not given permission for them to build there, but they built there in any case. Therefore, we are calling on municipalities across the province to enforce bylaws strictly because that is what is going to save lives,” says the department’s MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

Meanwhile, the family of 27-year-old Zanele Ndlela is devastated as she is still missing.

Neighbours say Ndlela tried to escape the rising waters, but strong river currents swept away her rented room with her inside.

Family spokesperson Ntokozo Ndlela says, “We heard about this yesterday around 11. We were told she held onto a tree when her room collapsed, but the water was too strong, even the foundation of the house was washed away. We’re hoping to join the search and find her, even if it’s just an arm, so we can have closure. The whole family is devastated, and it has made my mother very sick.”

Weather outlook for Thursday & Friday, 27 – 28 November 2025.
Partly cloudy & warm to hot conditions are expected with isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers over the central & eastern parts of the country. It will be very hot in places in the west. #saws #weatheroutlook pic.twitter.com/yanmdJohuU

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) November 25, 2025

Aerial footage of the impact of the floods that struck communities within the Umshwathi Local Municipality.

Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited the flood affected areas today. pic.twitter.com/88Tvxxggzj

— KZNCOGTA (@kzncogta) November 25, 2025

VIDEO| Families have been left devastated after floods in KZN: