The government has conceded that inadequate and unreliable infrastructure in many rural areas and some townships has worsened the impact of flooding across parts of the country.
Minister in the Presidency for Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, made the admission while responding to Newsnote during a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday.
“Yes, we must acknowledge that infrastructure challenges are a contributing factor to the devastating nature of the floods currently being experienced in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga,” Ramokgopa said.
She expressed the government’s sadness over the loss of life, extending sympathies and condolences to the 37 families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing disaster.
“I wish to begin by expressing our deepest sympathy to communities whose livelihoods have been disrupted by floods, mainly in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Government is on hand to work with all stakeholders to restore the dignity of these communities and to provide socio-economic and psychological support to affected and bereaved families,” she said.
The briefing was aimed at providing an update on the implementation of the seventh administration’s Medium-Term Development Plan, a five-year delivery programme.
Ramokgopa added that President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken a hands-on approach to the crisis.
“His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, has personally conducted an in-loco inspection and has subsequently tasked key functionaries to provide the necessary support as part of the disaster relief programme,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo provincial government said it is considering declaring a state of disaster in areas affected by persistent heavy rainfall, particularly in the Vhembe and Mopani districts, where some communities remain cut off.