South Africa: National Disaster for 3 Provinces After Severe Weather

A woman tries to clear rubble out of the road in Magwaveni, oThongati, after the devastating storm on Monday. Many roads in and around the community have been blocked by uprooted electrical pylons and trees.
13 June 2024

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) department declared a national disaster for areas affected by severe weather in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and the Free State, reports News24.

Bongani Elias Sithole, head of the national disaster management centre, said that disruptive rain, floods, strong winds, and snow had a significant impact that resulted in "the loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services".

The provincial government said that the damage is estimated at R1.3 billion, with the eThekwini metro accounting for more than R490 million.

The government said that more than 7,000 households had been affected, adding that around 20 schools had been severely damaged, while roads, bridges, community halls, and electricity infrastructure had also been affected.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.