Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane will this afternoon, Monday the 13th of December 2021, visit communities that have been hard-hit by recent storms in the King Sabata Dalindyebo and Mhlontlo Local Municipalities in the O. R. Tambo District Municipality.
Premier Mabuyane has conveyed his condolences to the families of six members of the public who lost their lives following severe weather that wreaked havoc in the area on the 9th of December 2021, leaving a further 19 people injured after houses collapsed on them.
A preliminary assessment of the damage caused has revealed that three areas in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality have sustained clustered severe damage to houses.
The affected villages are Qolweni in Sgubudwini, Ntilini in Lower Xongora and Ndungwane villages. Other villages have had scattered damage. In the King Sabata Dalindyebo LM, the storms left 77 families homeless, 15 partially homeless and four destitute. Livestock including sheep, goats and chickens were killed.
The Siyazama Ntilini Pre-School was damaged. Infrastructure like electricity power lines and electricity meter boxes were also damaged. Meanwhile, the Gqunu Bridge in Mhlontlo ward 17 was washed away.
The OR Tambo District Municipality, which is leading a multi-disciplinary coordinated effort to assist the affected households has appealed for donations of food and temporary shelter structures as an urgent intervention for those that have been affected.
The provincial government is urging members of the public in distress to contact the Disaster Risk Management Centre on 047 501 6494 or WhatsApp 073 205 6465.
Premier Mabuyane will also be visiting initiation schools that were also affected resulting in the injuries of initiates in some areas, as a result of the recent severe storms. Those that were injured have been taken to hospital.
The Premier has also lamented illegal initiation schools as being the main reason for the increase in the number of initiation deaths, which have now risen to 23 in the province.
‘’We have been very clear on our position on the operation of illegal initiation schools in the province, arrests are being made and we expect the law to take its course in pursuing those that continue this terrible practice of illegal initiation schools for financial gain with little or no regard for the lives of initiates that are in the hands of amakhankatha (care-givers),’’ said Premier Mabuyane.
Enquiries:
Khuselwa Rantjie - Acting General Manager: Provincial Communication Service / Spokesperson to the Premier & Government
Cell: 082 728 7476
Email: khuselwa.rantjie@ecotp.gov.za
Zimkhitha Macingwane - OR Tambo DM: Head Of Communications
Cell: 067 180 2098
Email: zimkhitama@ortambodm.gov.za
Sonwabo Mbananga - Director: Media Relations & Media Productions
Cell: 082 045 3963
Email: sonwabo.mbananga@ecotp.gov.za / mbanangass@gmail.com
