Government declares recent destructive weather events natural disasters

JOHANNESBURG - The recent incidents of bad weather across the country have been classified as natural disasters. 

Co-operative governance minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa said the classification of natural disaster meant the national executive assumed primary responsibility of managing the rehabilitation programmes. 

READ: Government to keep close eye on disaster relief fund spending

Since December last year, several provinces and municipalities have been hit by heavy rains and floods, resulting in the deaths of 40 people. 

 At a media briefing this afternoon, the department of co-operative governance announced it had already disbursed R1.4 billion in disaster relief to seven provinces and 60 municipalities. 

 Minister Hlabisa said urgent action needed to be taken.

 “Given the ongoing negative impact of these hazards on the lives of South Africans, we recognise the urgent need to take decisive action to protect the well-being of all citizens and assist our vulnerable communities. Even as we engage the government, we acknowledge the challenges faced by the country in funding disaster interventions, mainly due to increased disaster damages, fiscal deficit, and competing priorities.”

Hlabisa said while the bad weather events had been classified as natural disasters, they had not reached the stage of being declared a national state of disaster.