The government has classified six provinces following widespread flooding, storm damage, and the displacement of residents. The declaration affects the Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga.

The declaration means funding will be directed towards infrastructure repairs and recovery efforts, although access to the funds remains subject to strict processes.

These include damage assessments, verification processes, National Treasury approvals, formal motivation submissions from municipalities and provinces, and the availability of disaster relief grants or reprioritised government funding.

“The severe weather has disrupted basic services, such as schooling, which calls for urgent action,” said cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Velenkosini Hlabisa.

“Declaring the provinces as experiencing national disasters means the three spheres of government have to implement contingency arrangements, and the government needs to tally up all the incidents and identify focus areas.

“We are going to wait for submissions because municipalities are compiling the information and they will submit to provinces, who will submit to the national at Cogta, and we will do the same and verify the information.”

Meanwhile, search-and-rescue operations, together with humanitarian relief efforts, are continuing in parts of municipalities across the Northern Cape following devastating floods caused by prolonged heavy rainfall.

The province has experienced severe flooding across several municipalities, with the provincial disaster management centre confirming three district municipalities have been affected, including John Taolo Gaetsewe (Kuruman and Kathu), ZF Mgcawu (Upington), and Frances Baard (Kimberley).

In some areas, communities have been partially or completely cut off from economic activity. Basic services have also been disrupted, including access to schools, clinics, and other essential social services.

“This classification will strengthen the coordinated intergovernmental response across all affected districts and enable standardised reporting and monitoring,” said provincial government spokesperson Naledi Gaosekwe.

“By working together, following safety instructions and reporting emergencies promptly, communities will help protect lives and reduce the impact of flooding during this dangerous period.”

The provincial government urges residents to remain vigilant and take all flood warnings seriously.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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