President Ramaphosa links severe flooding in KZN to climate change, declares State of Disaster

The President has linked the severe flooding in the province to climate change. He was speaking while visiting parts of KwaZulu-Natal that have been badly hit by flooding. He says well over a hundred people have died in the flooding that followed intense rainfall.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared KwaZulu-Natal a state of disaster. The government of KwaZulu-Natal requested that the province be classified as a disaster area on Tuesday.

During his visit to the province, President Ramaphosa confirmed that the declaration is currently in the process of being gazetted.

Community member Thoko Ngcobo details how three children and a grandmother were killed after their houses were crushed by a mudslide. The deceased are aged 3, 10, 12 and 55 years old. #DurbanFloods #KZNFloods #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/XaUHeQTqZy

— MaMthiyane (@skhangiwem) April 13, 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Claremont, Durban to pass his condolences after 4 people were killed when a wall collapsed and fell on them #DurbanFloods #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/jhDdUZ6Z2p

— MaMthiyane (@skhangiwem) April 13, 2022

Ramaphosa says the government is coordinating its response to the massive damage and losses caused by the floods. The president was speaking at Ntuzuma in KwaMashu.

Ramaphosa has assured residents in KwaZulu-Natal affected by the damage caused by heavy rains the that government will assist those affected.

“What is painful is that a lot of people have died. Their homes have been destroyed, streets, towns, and this church has been destroyed… So we said let’s go to the areas to see the damage ourselves in order to see how government can help.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on governments to work together to help communities affected by the heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal. He is currently in Ntuzuma visiting displaced families #KZNFloods #DurbanFloods #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/WyidSOLhUV

— MaMthiyane (@skhangiwem) April 13, 2022

It is raining again in the area which is expected to delay rescue and mop-up operations.

The National Defence Force says it has dispatched some of its aircraft to assist in flood-ravaged KwaZulu Natal.  SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya says they are keen to assist KZN.

“We have operations that we conduct, we have operation chariot, immediately when we were informed we could lift goods and airforce is providing air support.”