Palmiet River crossing
📍 Quarry Road West informal settlement,Durban (eThekwini Metro), KwaZulu-Natal
Impact score
Flagship priorityEvery Bridging Africa site is assessed on the same four measures, by the same team, so this number can be compared directly against any other project on this site.
How dangerous the crossing is today: flood frequency, water speed and recorded incidents.
How many people depend on this crossing, and how often they have to make it.
What sits on the other side: schools, clinics, work, and whether any alternative route exists.
People served per Rand of build cost. It sets the order we build in, never whether we build.
A lower score is not a rejection. Every project listed is one we intend to build; the score sets the order, not the outcome.
Additional engineering measures required, such as raised approaches, scour protection or debris management.
Each measure is scored 1 to 5 from field assessment, CSIR flood data and community records, then weighted and converted to a mark out of 100.
Who is affected
The informal settlement sits directly on the narrow floodplain of the Palmiet River. In 2022, debris blocked the bridge, causing overflow that flooded homes; residents formed human chains to escape. Multiple prior events (e.g., 2019) destroyed homes
What has happened at this site
2019 floods destroyed ~240 homes; 2022 floods caused severe inundation with bridge debris issues (extensively reported, including resident accounts and analyses of unheeded warnings). Classified as one of Durban’s most risk-prone settlements in the 100-year flood zone.
Public benefit when complete
1,083 households in Quarry Road West (four sub-sections: Mcondo 1/2, maMpondweni, maMsuthu) — roughly 4,000+ people directly; broader Palmiet catchment benefits from reduced isolation.
Your donation costs less than you think.
Bridging Africa NPC is a SARS-registered PBO (334-275-NPO). Your donation qualifies for a Section 18A tax deduction, up to 10% of your taxable income per year.
Calculate your tax benefit →