South Africa has classified as a national disaster the heavy rains that have lashed parts of the country recently, claiming scores of lives and leaving a trail of destruction.
The heavy summer rains have triggered floods, landslides and strong winds that claimed at least 80 lives and damaged property, infrastructure and the environment.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said its National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has been “working closely with provinces and all affected organs of state and continues to receive reports on the extent of the damages caused by the recent torrential rains.”
“After consultation with all provinces and other relevant role-players on the extent of the damages caused by the storms and heavy rains, the NDMC has decided to classify (not declare) the severe weather events occurring in parts of the Republic that resulted in the loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure and the environment caused by flooding, strong winds, sink holes, landslides, etc. as a NATIONAL DISASTER,” ministry spokesperson Lungi Mtshali said.
He said the classification was done to confirm that the situation is regarded as a disaster and is of a magnitude that exceeds the capacity of affected municipalities and provinces to deal with.
“It further assigns primary responsibility to the national sphere of government for the coordination and management of the disaster and enables organs of state in all spheres to assist in dealing with the disaster and its consequences.”
The classification requires affected municipalities and provinces to redirect or repurpose their allocations towards managing the effects of the disaster and enables them to access central government disaster grants.
JN/APA