After heavy rains swept away Nomandla Nqanula's tin shack two years ago, she would pray whenever she saw clouds gathering over the fast-growing Quarry Road informal settlement in Durban, South Africa.
But these days, a WhatsApp group on her smartphone pings with flood warnings, and another city-designed app reminds her and 14 other residents to monitor flooding risks and river pollution near her home.
"When I wake up, I feel I have lots of work to do, to protect the river and also protect the people who live here," said the 33-year-old mother, standing outside her shack.
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