PHOTOS: Ramaphosa Visits Tragic KZN Flood Sites, Salutes South Africans

President Cyril Ramaphosa today visited sites in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, which have suffered devastating flooding and subsequent mudslides this week, leading to the death of 51 people and hospitalisation of over 30. Bodies are sadly still being dug out from under the mud and collapsed buildings.

The President announced that the government has availed relief funds to assist communities and families affected by the extreme floods in KZN and the Eastern Cape.

Addressing the media in Amanzimtoti, President Ramaphosa expressed sadness at the loss of life and damage to property.

The President saluted emergency services for speedily responding to rescue efforts and saving dozens of lives.

He also thanked national and provincial departments, local government and non-governmental organisations for assistance, particularly for the hundreds who have been displaced.

“They have provided food, shelter, mattresses and beds and also toilet facilities in the various halls,” he said.

Victor da Silva, a resident in the coastal town of Amanzimtoti, said his family managed to evacuate before the floods destroyed their home and cars.

“On Monday, the water was just crazy. And yesterday morning I got here, everything was fine, my garage was still here, the other part of the house was still here, and it just couldn’t stop raining,” Da Silva said. “And then an hour and half later, everything poof (vanished) because the rain just hasn’t stopped.

Johan Fourie told eNCA television that he escaped his home in Amanzimtoti just before part of it collapsed.

“I nearly lost my life, and my neighbor, I believe, is in hospital,” Fourie said.

Upon learning of the disaster, the President said he immediately contacted the National Treasury and enquired if there were funds available to assist those who had been affected.

“And they said: ‘Mr President, we do have the money to assist’. So, money will be mobilised to assist our people. These are emergencies that are budgeted for, so resources will be mobilised in the biggest way so that people currently in need are assisted.

“It will take time but the South African government, by all its levels, will be there to assist our people. This is what we have to do,” he said.

He was confident that the intervention would comfort the devastated people.

“The force of nature is so huge – this is partly what climate change is about. It just hits when you least expect it,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said he would in the next few days also visit parts of the Eastern Cape that were detrimentally affected by the floods.

Police in KZN said its teams responded to 28 callouts on Tuesday ranging from structural collapses, drowning, mudslides and entrapments where 24 bodies were recovered and 15 people rescued.

Search continued for three missing persons.

In Port Shepstone, search and rescue personnel attended to 31 callouts where two bodies were recovered, 43 people rescued and 29 evacuated.

South African Weather Service forecaster Edward Engelbrecht said the heavy rainfall occurs “from time to time, especially during this time of the year.”

He said the rain should start to clear by Thursday.

WATCH Aerial shots of flood damage in KZN South Africa

Sources: SAnews.gov.za and Reuters (Writing by Rogan Ward, additional reporting by Tanisha Heiberg and Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo in Johannesburg; editing by James Macharia, Larry King)