EC flooding death toll rises to 97 as COGTA warns MPs that the numbers may rise

CAPE TOWN - The cooperative governance department has told Parliament that two more people have been confirmed dead in the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape, warning that the numbers may rise.
 
Doctor Bongani Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, briefed the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs on Tuesday morning on their multi-departmental consolidated report on the province, which is still reeling from the devastating floods.
 
Sithole also gave an update on the death toll, which now stands at 97.
 
"Ninety-five people had been confirmed dead. This morning, we’ve since received an update but the HOD will confirm later. The number is 97, 23 of which are schoolgoing children."
 
With the death toll rising, he said that the Eastern Cape would also require no less than R5 billion to repair the damage caused by the floods.
 
Sithole said that the province suffered damage across several sectors and municipalities.
 
"The cost of repairing damaged infrastructure is estimated at R5.1 billion and then R3.2 billion across sector departments and R1.8 billion for municipal infrastructure."