South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday condoled the people of Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi who have been hit hard by Cyclone Freddy which has left hundreds of people dead and dozens of others injured over the past week.
“As the government and people of South Africa, we are saddened by the loss of human life, livestock, infrastructure and property experienced by our sister nations,” Ramaphosa said.
The tropical cyclone, which originated off the north-west of Australia in February and has travelled across the Indian Ocean to reach mainland Africa, has left over 200 dead, with Malawi bearing the brunt with 199 people killed, hundreds others injured and dozens missing or buried following mudslides.
In addition, there has been a high rate of loss of public infrastructure and private property worth millions of dollars in the three Southern African Community Development (SADC) member states as Cyclone Freddy lashed out at everything in its path, the presidency said.
Ramaphosa said South Africa shared “the wishes of the people of Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar, that these extreme weather incidents will subside, so that recovery and rebuilding efforts can proceed.”
NM/jn/APA