Call to strengthen disaster management structures

All organs of state were called to strengthen support to disaster management structures as rainy weather persisted in parts of the country.

On Sunday, the head of the National Disaster Management Centre, Elias Sithole, classified the heavy rains and flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and the severe weather in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the North West, as a national disaster.

At least 17 people lost their lives in the Limpopo floods and 20 others in Mpumalanga.

The classification of the severe weather conditions in the country meant the national executive assumed the primary responsibility for coordinating and managing the national disaster.

All organs of state from national, provincial, and local government were required to strengthen support to disaster management structures, implement contingency measures, and submit progress reports to the National Disaster Management Centre.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said response and recovery efforts would continue to be coordinated to ensure assistance reached all affected communities.

His spokesperson, Pearl Maseko-Binqose, reaffirmed the government's commitment.

"Minister Hlabisa reaffirmed that the government stands firmly with the people during this recovery period and remains committed to supporting communities as they rebuild and recover," Maseko-Binqose said.

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service said that while less rain could be expected in the affected provinces from Monday, wet weather conditions were expected to persist.