Eastern cape floods
CGE officials in KZN, EC to assess impact of floods on vulnerable groups
The commission will collect data that will be used to analyse how vulnerable groups have been affected.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla, led a Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster briefing on Thursday on government's response to the devastation that hit KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape earlier this month.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu will be part of Thursday's briefing.
The areas hardest hit include the Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani and OR Tambo districts.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the National Assembly where he is outlining government's response to the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The devastating floods have cost over 400 lives and left billions of rands worth of damage to infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said R1 billion had already been set aside but MPs would have to exercise oversight on any additional funds.
Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma held a briefing on the declaration of a National State of Disaster, due to the magnitude and severity of the damage caused by the severe weather events occurring in various municipal areas of the KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and other provinces. #Stateofdisaster #KZNfloods
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma gave a briefing on the declaration of a national state of disaster over the severe weather patterns in recent weeks that left large areas in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape flooded.
Deputy Minister David Mahlobo and the department gave parliament a storm damage report which affected several municipalities from Kwa-Zulu Natal to the Eastern Cape today.
This comes after Cabinet's meeting on Sunday where officials evaluated the social and economic aftermath of the flooding in the two provinces as well as work that's currently underway to relief and rebuild.
People's way of life was tragically interrupted when torrential rains flooded and swept away homes, ruined infrastructure and landslides damaged roads in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department of Cooperative Governance said so far, 82 people have died in drowning and lightning incidents across the country this season.
Several provinces, including KZN and the Eastern Cape, have been experiencing heavy rains that led to floods with more showers predicted in the coming weeks.
In the Eastern Cape, workers are still trying to assess the full damage of the recent flash floods and the impact it will have on school reopening while in the Western Cape, Education MEC Debbie Schafer fears that the recent extension of the state of disaster will further affect pupils.
The damage from last week's flash floods spans across more than 220 kilometers.
The Eastern Cape executive council has taken a decision to declare a provincial disaster.
The Buffalo City Municipality has established a Disaster Operations Centre to coordinate and deal with the aftermath of the flash floods that claimed lives and dispossessed hundreds.
Municipality spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said that they were still waiting for either the national or provincial government to declare a state of disaster, in order to unlock more emergency funding.