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Houses destroyed by heavy rains that caused floods in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
United Democratic Movement leader (UDM) Bantu Holomisa has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of disaster in flood-affected areas in the Eastern Cape.
Heavy rain caused the floods in which 78 people died and more than a thousand others were displaced.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has also sent a letter to Ramaphosa requesting the declaration.
Holomisa has also welcomed Ramaphosa’s visit to the most affected area, Mthatha, today.
He says, “The people of Mthatha and the broader OR Tambo cannot afford delays, red tape or empty promises. We call on President Ramaphosa and the relevant organs of state to immediately declare the affected areas a provincial or national state of disaster, depending on the assessment.”
VIDEO | Ramaphosa to assess flood damage in Mthatha:
Eastern Cape
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says four provinces, including the Eastern Cape, have been included in a National State of Disaster classification to allow government departments at all levels to intervene.
Hlabisa says, “Yesterday, we made a classification of a national disaster and there’s a difference between classification and declaration. Classification is the first step; we made it a national disaster under classification, which involves four provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Western Cape.”
“The classification merely works the same as declaring the problem with the declaration, it takes long to activate departments. So now, the classification allows all three spheres of government to intervene immediately to ensure that sufficient intervention is done.”
PODCAST: Interview with Hlabisa on SA FM’s The Morning Brief programme regarding Eastern Cape floods:
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the search for more bodies is continuing.
Mabuyane says, “We are going to have the president going through where all that has been triggered, the bridge, and also come down and see all the houses that were submerged under water, but also to come here and meet with the housed temporarily in the shelter where we are.”
“It still remains a very hectic space, we are continuing with our rescue operation looking for bodies that are missing. We are also at the same time trying to find a way to resettle our people,” He adds. – Additional reporting by Ntombi Mavimbela and Nomzwanele Mngoma.
