COGTA declares national disaster as flood death toll rises to 67

MTHATHA - The death toll in the Eastern Cape floods has risen to 67 from 57 earlier in the day.

The announcement was made by the provincial Department of Health during a media briefing in Mthatha on Thursday.

At the same time, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa declared the four provinces affected by severe flooding a national disaster. The provinces are Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

This paves the way for a full government response amid an intense search for more missing bodies.

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Hlabisa made the announcement during the same media briefing, saying COGTA will prioritise plans to address the devastation.

He was joined by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and provincial officials, who visited the hardest-hit areas and met families who lost loved ones.

The search continues for four missing learners swept away when their scholar transport vehicle was washed into floodwaters.

Hlabisa said the government was taking an all-hands approach.