Metro

South Africans face agonising wait for news of missing loved ones

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2022

Residents of the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa are facing an agonising wait for news of their missing loved ones as the death toll in the devastating floods and mudslide last week rises to 460.

Reports from government officials on Monday confirmed that at least 460 people have died in the floods amd mudslides, while dozens are still missing as rescue workers continue to search in the southeastern coastal region.

The Premier of the Durban province which covers the KwaZulu-Natal area, Sihle Zikalala, in a statement, said the dead included two emergency workers, while more than 63 people remain unaccounted for.

“The loss of lives, destruction of homes, the damage to the physical infrastructure … make this natural disaster one of the worst ever in recorded history of our province,” said Zikalala.

“In some of the worst-affected areas residents faced an agonising wait for the news of missing loved ones,” he added.

Sbongile Mjoka, a resident of Sunshine village in the eThekwini municipality whose eight-year-old nephew has been missing for days, told reporters that his family is still hopeful of seeing his nephew alive.

“We haven’t lost hope. Although we are constantly worried as the days continue,” Mjoka said.

Another resident, Lethiwe Sibiya, who also spoke to journalists said “everything is a harsh reminder of what we lost, and not being able to find our loved ones is devastating because we can’t grieve or heal. At this stage we are left feeling empty.”

In what has been described as one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country, the floods and accompanying mudslides were the strongest to have struck South Africa in more 60 years triggered by torrential rains that lashed the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Related Topics:Death Toll Featured floods in south africa Missing Persons

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

11 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

12 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.