Ramaphosa announces National State of Disaster following KZN and EC floods

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the severity of the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape has mandated the declaration of a National State of Disaster.  

#KZNFloods Ramaphosa: Cabinet met last night and decided to declare a National State of Disaster. #sabcnews

— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) April 18, 2022

Ramaphosa made the announcement in an address to the nation.  

“This is to ensure an effective response across all spheres of government to the extreme weather events that have occurred in several parts of the country. The primary responsibility to coordinate and manage the disaster is assigned to the national sphere of government, working closely together with provincial governments and municipalities. It enables the mobilisation of more resources, capabilities and technical expertise in providing relief, recovery and rehabilitation to affected communities,” says Ramaphosa.

The president says the port of Durban is of national significance and the implications of the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape require the declaration of a State of National Disaster.  

He says the Minister of Co-operative Governance Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been mandated to make the declaration following a weekend cabinet meeting to discuss the disaster. 

Ramaphosa says government will deal with the disaster in three phases – firstly, addressing the immediate need for humanitarian relief and to make sure people are safe. Thereafter, the government will work to ensure the stabilisation of the situation and create conditions for recovery. Thirdly, Ramaphosa says government will focus on reconstruction and rebuilding.  

He says a focus will be on new housing in areas safe from flooding. 

#KZNFloods Ramaphosa: We will respond in 3 phases –

1 – Focus on immediate humanitarian relief

2 – Focus on stabilization and recovery

3 – Focus on reconstruction and rebuilding#SABCNEWS

— Chriselda ‘Babes We Ndaba’ Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) April 18, 2022

#KZNFloods Ramaphosa: Temporary housing units construction should begin by end of this week.

Financial assistance through a voucher system to assist households to rebuild partially damaged houses. #SABCNEWS

— Chriselda ‘Babes We Ndaba’ Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) April 18, 2022

President Ramaphosa addresses the nation on government’s response to widespread flooding:

Meanwhile, the search for three people, including a three-month-old baby, continues under heaps of mud and rubble in eMachobeni, in Inanda north of Durban, following the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal.

At least 443 people have died from the floods in the province.

Persistent rains are hampering rescue operations.

Residents are optimistic that the arrival of search and rescue teams will help them find their loved ones who are still missing.

They include a three-month-old child whose 14-year-old sibling died after being swept away in mudslides.

Her body was found by the community.