The South African Police Service (SAPS) divers’ search and rescue team have discovered two more bodies. An elderly man’s body was found in Soekmekaar while the other of a school child was discovered in Giyani.
The search for missing people in Musina and Makhado continues. This has raised the number of death caused by the floods to twelve (12). MEC Clifford Motsepe as political head of the Provincial Disaster Management Centre expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to affected families. He added, however, that he trust that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre is ready to handle any eventuality. The MEC has edged members of the communities not to cross flowing rivers and streams.
The team is currently doing an assessment of the damage and will prepare a report for the attention of authorities. The report will advise the department in terms of what needs to be done. All people reported trapped have been rescued and clean-up operations has commenced.
The department of CoGHSTA has appointed two service providers to start with the process of beneficiary identification and building RDP houses for the affected families with immediate effect. The team is working around the clock to finalise the assessment for qualifying beneficiaries. The department has also written a request to National Disaster Management Centre for classification of the provincial state of disaster.
Infrastructure damage
More than seven hundred and eight (708) houses, nineteen (19) schools, forty two (42) bridges were cut-off and 14 roads were eroded.
Greater Tzaneen
Forty two (42) families in the following five (5) villages were affected: Petanenge, Nyakelane, Khethone, Mawa Block 8, Lefara and Lepapane.
Greater Letaba Local Municipality
Sixty two (62) families in the following nine (9) villages were affected: Rotterdam, Mohlabaneng, Bellview, Sedibeng, Thaghalang, Wholesale, Mamatlepa, Mokhwakwaile and Mokwasele.
Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality
Twenty two (22) houses collapsed in Mashishimale Village.
Greater Giyani Local Municipality
Greater Giyani Local Municipality is the most affected municipality in Mopani. Several villages were affected and a total of five hundred and one (501) families have been affected. Mopani District Municipality has already distributed 125 tents.
Maruleng Local Municipality
Six (6) villages and twenty one families were affected: Sofaya, Balloon, Bismarck, Metz, Enable and Tickey line
Capricorn District Municipality
Houses were affected. Ga-Mampa village is completely inaccessible.
Sekhukhune District Municipality
Eight mud houses have collapsed.
Waterberg District Municipality
No incidents reported
Disaster Management is everybody’s business. In case of any disaster, members of the public should report incidents to their district offices or Provincial Disaster Management Centre on the toll free number 0800 222 111.
For missing persons during disaster, members of the public should report the incident to their nearest police stations.
For more information contact:
Ms Dieketseng Diale
Cell: 083 652 5276
Tel: 015 294 5582
E-mail: mediaenquiry@limdlgh.gov.za
