The Eastern Cape government has deployed emergency disaster teams throughout the province to help those affected by the floods. The Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City metros are the worst affected.
The death toll linked to the floods stands at seven.
Provincial government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie says: “Government urges citizens to exercise extra caution and to be extra vigilant especially in areas prone to flooding and following regular updates and warnings from the South African Weather Services. People are also urged against crossing flooding roads and bridges when water levels rises.”
Eastern Cape Floods | Government to Provide Temporary Shelter to affected residents
Assessing damage
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in the Eastern Cape is in the process of assessing the damage caused by flooding, and to render assistance to those affected in various parts of the province.
Provincial MEC Zolile Williams visited Kariega in Nelson Mandela Bay.
There are also fears of a possible dam burst in the Kariega area.
Williams says about 2000 people have been displaced in the province.
“We have not yet determined the total cost of this disaster. Our community is close to 2000 plus minus have been displaced from their normal homes. But this disaster has also targeted informal settlements and some of those communities have been placed in churches community halls and pre schools.”
EC Floods update:
More than 3 000 informal dwellings have been flooded in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM). BCM Mayor Princess Faku says the extent of the damage in the metro is overwhelming as it battles dilapidating and ageing drainage infrastructure.
Faku says the municipality is not capacitated to solve drainage system challenges.
“The ageing infrastructure that has been here for years national government needs to come in and intervene. Because as the municipality we can’t do it alone. Even from the grants that we are getting from national, there is no grant we are getting or maintenance of infrastructure. So that is a major challenge for us, with the equitable share that we are getting its not enough, revenue collection is not enough so we need national government to come and intervene otherwise we will find ourselves in this situation every three months or so.”
