Two more bodies as Mthatha floods devastate Eastern Cape rise death toll
by Mathipa Phishego
Two more bodies were found during ongoing recovery efforts, bringing the total number of fatalities from the devastating floods that hit Mthatha and the surrounding communities in the Eastern Cape to 92, officials said on Wednesday. The floods, which were brought on by a week of intense and prolonged rain, have severely damaged houses, roads, schools, and other vital infrastructure. At least 1,000 houses were totally demolished, and over 4,600 households were impacted, according to the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
The scenario has been referred to as “an unprecedented disaster” by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, who also stated that “communities are traumatised and livelihoods are shattered.” Mthatha, Port St. Johns, Libode, and Ngqeleni are among the impacted districts where search and rescue operations are still underway. To rescue missing people and provide aid to displaced citizens, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), local police, and humanitarian agencies like Gift of the Givers are working together.
The after-math of the floods that recently occurred in Mthata in the Eastern Cape
image: supplied
Rescue efforts have been attacked, meanwhile, for their early setbacks. Reports of logistical problems, such as the lack of flight engineers, delayed the deployment of SANDF helicopters. According to the provincial Department of Education, more than 6,000 learners had their education interrupted by the damage to more than 70 schools. Flood damage was also reported by a number of clinics and hospitals, placing further strain on rural areas’ already meagre public health resources.
Officials from the province and the federal government are now estimating the damage; preliminary estimates indicate that repairing homes and infrastructure may cost more than R1.2 billion. The government has been urged by political parties to designate the flooding a national catastrophe, which would allow national ministries to provide more financial and logistical support.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, meantime, has called for immediate investment in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, attributing the rising frequency of such catastrophic weather occurrences to climate change. The public and commercial sectors have been urged to contribute to relief funds, and aid organisations have established donation stations throughout the province. The demand for blankets, food parcels, water and building supplies is still quite strong.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Minister of Traditional Affairs and Cooperative Governance, stated on Wednesday that the department was giving the request careful thought. But has not yet issued a formal statement. In addition to creating new housing communities, CoGTA has committed to moving displaced families to safer ground. CoGTA spokesperson Nonceba Lwana stated, “We are working on a plan to provide permanent housing and better infrastructure to withstand future disasters because temporary shelters are not enough.”