President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the South African government is working to strengthen its disaster management systems to respond faster as climate change-related disasters increase.
During a visit to flood-hit Mpumalanga, Ramaphosa assessed the damage caused by recent floods that destroyed over 500 homes in Nkomazi Municipality and left at least 20 people dead. The National Disaster Management Centre has declared the floods in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces a national disaster.
Highlighting the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change, Ramaphosa called for global climate damage financing, especially for countries in the Global South. He said these nations face the worst effects of climate change, despite contributing the least to its causes.
“During the G20, South Africa emphasised the need for clear policies and financial support to address climate change damage, particularly for the Global South,” Ramaphosa said.