The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), in the Northern Cape, notes the devastation and destruction caused by inclement weather conditions that included severe thunderstorms, damaging strong winds, and disruptive rains that started on Thursday, 28 December 2023.
The Pixley Ka Seme District, was severely affected with approximately 200 households affected by the floods and damage to houses and property in Britstown, Emthanjeni Local Municipality, and 70 households affected in the areas of Slangpark, Hillside and Hopetown, in the Thembelihle Municipality.
The District Disaster Management Centre temporarily accommodated 30 of the affected families at the Steynville Community Hall in Hopetown, and provided meals and blankets as an interim and immediate response. The Department of Social Development has activated soup kitchens and provide two meals a day in Hopetown, Langberg and Britstown, the Department also provided blankets in Hopetown and will further distribute to the other affected areas.
In the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, a total of 11 households were affected in the Joe Morolong Municipality, and assessments are ongoing by the District Disaster Management Centre.
Roads, electricity, and waste water infrastructure, are amongst some of the public infrastructure severely damaged by the severe weather conditions in different parts of the Pixley Ka Seme and Namakwa Districts. The Provincial and District Disaster Management Centres, are coordinating multi-stakeholder responses to assist the displaced families in the different affected areas, and to provide support, whilst the assessment of the damages is still being quantified, so that the Department can determine the most appropriate intervention plan.
MEC for COGHSTA, Mr. Bentley Vass, MEC for Social Development, Ms. Nontobeko Vilakazi and MEC for Roads and Public Works, Ms. Fufe Makatong with their senior managers visited some of the affected areas to get first-hand information with regards to the damage caused to private and public infrastructure and to assure the affected families of government support.
MEC Vass, also thanked some of the businesses in the affected areas that immediately assisted displaced families with blankets, toiletries and meals. MEC Vass said ‘’when incidences like these happen, it is important that both government and the private sector join hands to assist the displaced families, affected by these conditions, and as government we are grateful that we can join hands and work together to bring relief to these distressed communities.
The Department is working closely with all affected municipalities to ensure a coordinated approach. We are also grateful that no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported so far’’.
MEC Vass said that as soon as the Disaster Management Centre, has finalized the assessment, government will announce what cause of action will flow from the assessment report. He urged residents across the province to heed the weather conditions warnings and to take precautionary measures to keep themselves and their properties safe.
Provincial government departments are closely working together to provide for the needs of the affected areas and ensuring a coordinated approach.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre is on high alert and working with the District Disaster Management Centres, in all districts continues to monitor the situation.
The following contact details are for the Heads of Disaster Management Centres -
- Head of Provincial Disaster Management Centre – Mr T Gaolaolwe - 083 390 2920
- Head - Frances Baard District Disaster Management Centre – Mr. C. Jones - 083 675 7793
- Head - John Taolo District Disaster Management Centre – Mr. J. Rossouw – 082 415 2660
- Head - ZF Mgcawu District Disaster Management Centre – Ms. R. Snyders – 079 379 2703
- Head - Pixley Ka Seme District Disaster Management Centre – Mr. C. Menziwa – 078 175 3117
- Head - Namakwa District Disaster Management Centre – Mr. L. Vermeulen – 084 511 7481
For media enquiries contact
Ms. Babalwa M. Mzambo
Spokesperson to MEC Bentley Vass
Cell: 083 390 1974
E-mail: bmzambo@nccoghsta.onmicrosoft.com
or
Mr Tebogo Monyo
Head of Communication (Dept. of COGHSTA)
Cell: 078 893 7293
E-mail: tmonyo@nccoghsta.onmicrosoft.com
