ANC in WC welcomes state of disaster declaration following province’s severe weather
The party had earlier written to the premier, requesting that the declaration be made.
Flooded streets in Goodwood, Cape Town, on 11 July 2024. Pictures: Supplied
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in Western Cape has welcomed a state of disaster declaration, after severe weather recently battered the province.
The party had earlier written to the premier, requesting that the declaration be made.
In Cape Town alone,158,097 people have been affected and 47,663 structures have been flooded or damaged.
Mudslides, rockfalls, uprooted trees and rivers bursting their banks were reported across the province, while the town of Clanwilliam in the Cederberg Municipality was completely cut off due to flooding.
Several houses lost their roofs in the Wynberg area, while electricity teams had their hands full attending to power outages.
Leader of the opposition in the Western Cape legislature Khalid Sayed said, "It's a crucial step in mobilising the necessary resources and support to assist those affected by the disaster.
“While the announcement is a positive development, we urge swift action and comprehensive planning to address the immediate needs of the displaced and affected communities, and to work on long-term solutions to rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure and address apartheid spatial planning."