EC Floods: Memorial service underway for victims
Heavy rains saw localised flooding, damage to infrastructure and the displacement of over 4,000 people.
Gift of the Givers teams making their way to the Eastern Cape from Cape Town and Johannesburg to assist with flood relief efforts. Picture: Gift of the Givers/Ali Sablay
JOHANNESBURG - A memorial service is underway for 92 people killed during this month's floods in the Eastern Cape.
Heavy rains saw localised flooding, damage to infrastructure and the displacement of over 4,000 people.
Since then, a long list of officials visited the area including President Cyril Ramaphosa and members of his cabinet who have vowed to speed up rehousing efforts and assistance.
Some of the speakers attending the memorial have called for a consolidated effort by government to mitigate the impact.
OR Tambo District Municipality deputy mayor Thandekile Sabisa is among the dignitaries present at the memorial service.
READ: Police find another body during search for flood victims in EC
He said the province stands in solidarity with all families.
"The floods have destroyed the homes of people, they have destroyed living things. The most painful thing is that these floods claimed the lives of our loved ones. This incident has hit us very hard as the people in OR Tambo."
As the memorial continues, search and recovery efforts are still underway.