Collaborative efforts to assist flood victims

• Published date: 16 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured flood affected residents of KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Eastern Cape that government and stakeholders are drawing all resources to ensure that the three provinces recover with no person left behind.

The flooding caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure and claimed the lives of at least 435 people in KwaZulu-Natal alone.

The President visited KZN for a second time over the weekend and said any concerns regarding the government's ability to rebuild and recover are misplaced.

'The National Disaster Management Centre has been coordinating all spheres of government in their efforts to provide humanitarian relief to the many households that have been affected. It has been pleasing to see the NGO community, business and relief organisations joining in working with government to provide much-needed relief assistance.

'All these stakeholders have provided food, clothes, blankets, dignity packs and school uniforms to vulnerable families to meet their basic needs. Sheltering services are currently being provided to over 7 000 people in the four most affected districts in KwaZulu-Natal. Work has started to build temporary residences for affected families on state-owned land parcels identified in KwaZulu-Natal for possible resettlement,' he said in his weekly newsletter on Monday.

According to the President, work is also ongoing to fix damage to infrastructure and where not possible, alternative plans are being made.

'Mobile classrooms are being procured so that learning and teaching should not be interrupted for longer than necessary in flood-affected schools. Work is underway to repair damaged waste water treatment works, pump-stations and reticulation. Damaged roads are being repaired...