South Africa has declared a national disaster following deadly floods in the Eastern Cape Province that have left at least 101 people dead and caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Zolile Williams, a member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the province. He confirmed that the decision came after a full evaluation of the destruction brought on by recent extreme weather events.
The declaration, made under the Disaster Management Act, follows intense rainfall, flooding, strong winds, and snowfall that affected various parts of the country—most severely impacting the Eastern Cape.
Of the 101 fatalities reported, 38 were children. The floods, which occurred on June 9 and 10, affected 6,869 households, left 4,724 people homeless (excluding those in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality), and caused partial damage to 2,145 homes. Additionally, 1,339 livestock were lost, and 1,803 hectares of crops were destroyed.
Williams reported that the flooding also dealt a heavy blow to critical infrastructure. Damage assessments estimate that 5.1 billion rand (approximately 286 million U.S. dollars) will be needed for repairs. Of this, 3.2 billion rand is allocated for sector departments, while 1.8 billion rand is required for municipal infrastructure based on findings from the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent.
The province has also identified a need for 461 million rand to fund Temporary Residential Units. However, with only 120 million rand currently available, Williams appealed to the national government for additional support. Road repairs are projected to cost 935 million rand, but only 102 million rand has been reassigned from the Department of Transport budget, leaving a shortfall of 832 million rand.
Despite the challenges, progress is being made. Williams noted that schools have resumed classes, essential services have been restored in many affected areas, and land has been earmarked for both temporary and permanent housing solutions.
Electricity has been restored to over 80 percent of impacted households, and water services have resumed for more than 95 percent of customers in the worst-affected O.R. Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities.
The government has called on the private sector, businesses, and the public to contribute aid, including food, clothing, blankets, and furniture, to assist those impacted. “Every act of generosity helps us rebuild and recover. Together, we can bring hope and dignity back to affected communities,” said Williams.