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South Africa

South Africa: Government maintains heightened efforts to assist flood victims and minimise loss of lives

The Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has firmly tightened its grip on floods with various coordination structures, across the country, improving impact of government's intervention to assist in affected areas while minimising regrettable loss of lives and damages where possible.

The heavy rains across the country continue to bring disruptive floods and damage to infrastructure in various part of the country. Since mid-December to date, loss of lives and enormous damage to public and private property has been attributed to heavy rains, floods, drowning, severe storms, strong winds, hail and lightning across the country.

Government across all three spheres has intensified its humanitarian efforts in various areas that are affected by floods. National Joint Committee which has been established by CoGTA to coordinate support to victims and minimise loss of lives has put in place systems to activate swift assistance to local authorities when the need arise.

Various organisations and individuals have come on board to work with government in providing blankets and food to displaced people in various shelters across the country.

While efforts to limit the scale of damage and loss of lives as a result of the current disaster government express a heartfelt condolence to a total of 88 people who have lost their lives to date as a direct result the disaster. This figure accounts for all eight provinces with area that have been declared disaster zone.

Kwa-Zulu Natal province has so far experienced the most deaths as a result of various disaster related causes. The province has sadly reported 21 cases of death from mid-December 2010 to date with Mpumalanga and Free State having reported least number of deaths, two people each.

Preliminary reports from North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KZN indicate that from mid December to date, a total of 321 injuries have been linked to the current disaster. Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces injuries figures are yet to be confirmed.

The preliminary reports also indicate that damaged infrastructure comprised of schools, roads, water treatment plants, public facilities, water drainage systems, bridges, electricity poles, telephone lines, churches and municipal infrastructure.

While National Disaster Management Centre is yet to do a comprehensive assessments and verification of damage cost, several provinces have indicated their estimated damage monitory value. These estimations are yet to be verified by the NDMC:

  • Limpopo estimates R 1 324 964 345
  • North West R 123 300 000
  • Eastern Cape R 78 500 000
  • Mpumalanga R 174 000 000
  • KZN R715 000 000
  • Free State R7.7 Billion

Estimated damage cost figures from Gauteng and Northern Cape provinces are still outstanding. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs declared a State of National Disaster in 33 district municipalities under eight provinces. Western Cape is the only province so far where state of disaster has not been declared.

Meanwhile, the Department of Water Affairs is constantly monitoring the water level of dams around the country to issue early warning if the levels exceed the dams' capacity and sluice gates need to be opened.

For more information please contact:

Vuyelwa Qinga

Cell: 082 877 3898

Tel: 012 334 0993

Issued by: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

27 Jan 2011