The government has declared a national state of disaster following the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal last week, with President Cyril Ramaphosa telling the nation in a televised address on Monday evening that the response to the floods would be in three phases.
“First, we will focus on immediate humanitarian relief, ensuring that all affected persons are safe and that their basic needs are met. Second, we will focus on stabilisation and recovery, rehousing people who have lost homes and restoring the provision of services,” he said.
Ramaphosa added that the third phase would focus on reconstruction and rebuilding, and would not only involve the repair of major infrastructure.
“It will also involve the construction of houses in suitably located areas and measures to protect the residents of these areas from such adverse weather events in the future.”
The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government confirmed that by Monday at least 443 people had lost their lives, with eThekwini accounting for 399 deaths, Ilembe district 30, Ugu seven, King Cetshwayo five and uMzinyathi two.
Search and rescue teams on Monday continued to search for the 63 people who were still reported missing.
Ramaphosa further said 247 people had been rescued in operations led by the police and the South African National Defence Force, revealing that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana had immediately made available R1-billion.
The president added that he would also approach parliament for additional resources.
He said: “I will be approaching the presiding officers to request a joint sitting of parliament next week to ensure that the elected representatives of the people of our country can be directly involved in oversight of the work that is needed to provide relief and to rebuild.
“A comprehensive assessment of the economic cost of these floods still has to be made, but it is clear that it will run into billions of rands for the rebuilding of infrastructure and loss of production.”
Also read: More aid comes in to assist KZN floods victims
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