By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged support and solidarity to the victims of the recent floods that had devastating effects in different parts of the Eastern Cape.
Ramaphosa visited victims of the devastating floods which occurred last weekend in the province.
Speaking at Laplan Community Hall in Kariega, where the flood victims are housed, he has said government would also help the families through its social welfare departments and will ensure that burials are conducted.
He has promised to return to the area to assess the progress in assisting the victims.
Over 3000 people have been displaced by the flooding in the NMB and Buffalo City Metros, while eleven people lost their lives.
“This is very painful and I am very sorry that we have this situation. But I want to [assure] that government will walk this road with you,” he said.
Those who have lost loved ones will also receive help from government.
“The local government is here. The provovincial government is here and all its departments as well as the national departments. The extent of the damage is huge.
“It’s a disaster and we are going to deal with it as a disaster. The sad part is that there are people who have died. We, as government, are going to help those families where people have died and our social welfare department is going to support those families as much as we can and make sure that burials do happen.
“There are people who are injured… who have had to go to hospital and we are going to make sure that they get good healthcare once they are in hospital.
“Those people who have become displaced… we are going to make sure that they are put in a same place and moved from that safe place and put in temporary accommodation, which we are in the process of preparing and building,” he said.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng has instructed the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to work closely with the Joint District Operations Centre, the Eastern Cape provincial government, as well as the affected municipalities to further provide assistance and support to those affected by the floods.
Nkadimeng said the level of devastation caused by the floods in the Eastern Cape meets all the criteria for declaring a national disaster.
According to the metro’s acting city manager Luvuyo Magalela, a report revealed that the estimated cost of the damage amounted to R1 137 160 152.00.
Magalela highlighted that this amount included short-and long-term solutions.
“The recovery efforts are continuing and the quantification of the damages is being determined,” he said in a statement.
The city manager reported significant damage across Nelson Mandela Bay, particularly affecting the human settlements, electricity and energy, and roads and infrastructure directorates.
Ramaphosa has also thanked the humanitarian relief organization, Gift of the Givers, for its swift response to the flooding disaster.