More than 500 people have been displaced from their homes in South Africa’s Eastern Cape following floods that hit the province’s OR Tambo District Municipality late last week, officials said on Monday.
OR Tambo District Municipality has been affected by torrential rainfall over the past week, which caused flooding resulting in loss of life, displacement of communities and damage to infrastructure.
The resultant flooding and mudslides affected communities in the Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, Nyandeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo areas, with at least three people reported missing.
The floods disrupted critical infrastructure and services such as water and sanitation and electricity, and damaged roads and bridges.
The OR Tambo District Municipality said that some flood victims were temporarily accommodated at a local youth centre in the area.
“More than 500 people are there, including young children and school-going children,” municipality spokesperson Zimkhitha Macingwane told journalists.
She said residents would be assisted with recovering important belongings such as IDs.
“The Department of Social Development has committed that they are going to assist where necessary, especially with those who lost their documents and their uniform.”
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the affected areas to assess the damage on Tuesday, the presidency announced on Monday.
It said the government has activated a working Special Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management to provide support and relief to the affected communities.
“Teams comprising national, provincial and local spheres of government have been assessing the damage and providing emergency support in the form of shelter, food, blankets and other essentials,” the presidency said.
JN/APA