CHDM
The Eastern Cape is one of several provinces that will benefit from the government’s declaration of a national state of disaster following recent floods in parts of the country.
The Presidency said the declaration will “enable an intensive, coordinated response to the impact of floods that are affecting Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West provinces.’
The Eastern Cape reported three fatalities as a result of the floods, mainly reported in the Chris Hani District Municipality where extensive damage was reported to houses and infrastructure in several local municipalities.
Damage assessments were still continuing this week following last week's heavy rainfall which also caused havoc in Komani.
Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the National Disaster Management Centre has, in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, classified the impact of current, above-normal rainfall in various parts of the country – with Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape provinces as the most affected – as a national disaster.
“The National Disaster Management Centre has received reports ranging from flooded homes, vehicles swept away by floodwaters and overflowing dams and sewerage facilities, to the loss of basic infrastructure and damage to roads, bridges and a Limpopo hospital,” he said.
In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses, and anticipate further losses as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) predicts that current heavy rains will persist.
Magwenya said national entities, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), may be required to play a role in the response to the disaster.
