South Africa Declares National Disaster as Floods Devastate Provinces
Johannesburg – The South African government has declared a national disaster in response to the severe flooding and extreme weather conditions that have ravaged several provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The classification, made on Saturday by Dr Elias Sithole, the head of the National Disaster Management Centre, marks a significant escalation in the government's response to the crisis.
The announcement, confirmed by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) on Sunday, follows weeks of relentless rainfall, strong winds, and devastating floods that have claimed lives, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted essential services across multiple regions.
The decision to declare a national disaster came after extensive deliberations with "relevant organs of state and heads of provincial disaster management centres through the National Joint Flood Coordinating Committee," according to a draft gazette posted online. The gazette, which is still being finalised, also cited an assessment of "the magnitude and severity of the severe weather" in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the North West, since late last year.
The extreme weather events, specifically lightning, strong and damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding, have resulted in significant loss of life, widespread damage to infrastructure and the environment, and the disruption of basic services. The situation has been particularly dire in Mpumalanga, which has recorded at least 20 flood-related fatalities, and in Limpopo, where the death toll had risen to 11 by Saturday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently visited some of the hardest-hit areas, witnessing firsthand the devastation caused by the floods. The cost of the damage is estimated to be in the billions of rands, and with further weather warnings still in place, the situation remains precarious.
As a result of the national disaster declaration, "the primary responsibility to coordinate and manage this national disaster" will now fall to the national executive. This signifies a centralised and coordinated approach to relief and recovery efforts, with the national government taking the lead in addressing the crisis.
The draft gazette calls on organs of state across national, provincial, and local government "to strengthen their support to the disaster management structures, to implement their contingency arrangements, and to ensure that measures are put in place to enable the national executive to effectively deal with the effects of this disaster." This underscores the need for a collaborative effort involving all levels of government to mitigate the impact of the floods and support affected communities.
Furthermore, the gazette recommends the implementation of a "multisectoral prevention, mitigation, relief, and rehabilitation plan." This comprehensive approach aims to address the immediate needs of those affected, while also focusing on long-term strategies to reduce the risk of future disasters.
Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa welcomed the classification, stating that it would facilitate a more effective and coordinated response to the crisis. His department has affirmed that "response and recovery efforts would continue in the interim," ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.
The declaration of a national disaster is a critical step in addressing the devastating impact of the floods and extreme weather conditions. It allows for the mobilisation of resources, the coordination of efforts, and the implementation of comprehensive strategies to support affected communities and rebuild damaged infrastructure. As South Africa grapples with the aftermath of these events, the focus remains on providing relief, restoring services, and building resilience to future disasters.
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