By Zuko Komisa
South Africa declares a national state of disaster over floods across the country.
In order to coordinate a comprehensive response to the severe flooding that has devastated seven out of the nine provinces of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has proclaimed a national state of disaster.
According to a statement from the office of the president on Monday, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have been the most severely impacted by the floods, which were brought on by intense rainfall as a result of the La Nina meteorological phenomena.
“In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses, and anticipate further losses as the South African Weather Service predicts that current heavy rains will persist.
“These conditions have been brought on by the La Niña global weather phenomenon which occurs in the Pacific Ocean but impacts on a country like South Africa with above-normal rainfall,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
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Flooding has also occurred in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West.
“With the continued strengthening of the La Niña event, the country can expect above-normal rainfall and below-normal temperatures over the summer rainfall areas.
“Taken together, these conditions demand the provision of temporary shelters, food and blankets to homeless families and individuals and the large-scale, costly rehabilitation of infrastructure,” said Magwenya.
The national disaster legislation offers the government more authority, including the ability to sidestep legal limitations on the purchase and delivery of goods and services.
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