The presidency said on Friday President Jacob Zuma was deeply concerned about the loss of life and damage caused by fire and storm weather in the Western Cape and reports stating otherwise were “fake news”.
“The Presidency has noted a report by one of the online “Fake News” outlets claiming that President Jacob Zuma said that Knysna in the Western Cape was not his concern. The online report and supposed quotation from the President are false,” his office said.
It added that the president was “extremely concerned by the loss of life, displacement of people and total devastation that have been visited on the residents of the Western Cape including Knysna, Plettenberg Bay in the Cape Peninsula and all affected areas as a result of the severe weather and heavy storms”.
The presidency pointed out that government had dispatched humanitarian support to all affected area, especially poor communities.
“We also thank all those who have come forward with support to the affected communities and appeal to those with the means to assist the residents of Western Cape who have been caught by the devastating effects of the storm,” it quoted Zuma as saying.
A fire raging in the Knysna area in the southeastern Cape has killed five people and displaced 10,000, while the storm which hit Cape Town earlier in the week also claimed the lives of five people.
– African News Agency (ANA)
