South Africa declares National Disaster
South Africa has declared a national disaster following severe floods and storms that caused extensive damage across several provinces.
This declaration enables the government to allocate emergency funds for relief efforts and reconstruction.
According to Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, the disruptive weather between October 22 and 29 affected the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces.
The storms caused widespread damage to infrastructure, property, and the environment while also interrupting essential services.
The Eastern Cape was particularly hard hit, with at least ten reported deaths and hundreds of people displaced, according to local broadcaster eNCA.
The declaration assigns the national government primary responsibility for coordinating disaster management efforts, including cleanup and rebuilding.
This event follows a similar climate-related disaster declared in September and October 2023, highlighting the increasing frequency of extreme weather in the region.
Recent months have brought a series of unusual and destructive weather events to South Africa.
In September, unseasonal snowfall disrupted major transportation routes, closing a key highway for two days.
November also saw a significant snowfall—the first of its magnitude in 85 years.
These anomalies, combined with last month’s intense storms, underscore the growing unpredictability of South Africa’s climate.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had issued multiple warnings earlier in the week, including yellow level 2 and level 4 alerts, for provinces such as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Free State.
These warnings predicted heavy rainfall, strong winds, hail, and the potential for localised flooding.
The SAWS cautioned that these conditions could damage infrastructure, inundate low-lying areas, and disrupt roads and essential services.
A yellow level 4 warning, in particular, signifies a high likelihood of significant disruptions, including closed roads, damaged infrastructure, and delays in service delivery due to hazardous weather.
Motorists were advised to exercise caution, maintain safe following distances, and use headlights during adverse conditions to minimise risks.
The declaration of a national disaster reflects the seriousness of these impacts and the need for a coordinated, large-scale response to address the challenges posed by these extreme weather events.