By: Buhle Mbhele
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the national government will assist flood-stricken Mpumalanga in every way possible.
Ramaphosa visited the Nkomazi Local Municipality on Tuesday to assess the extent of the damage caused by recent floods and to evaluate the government’s response on the ground. The area is among the worst affected after persistent heavy rainfall led to flooding, damaged infrastructure and the displacement of hundreds of residents.
“We are here to see for ourselves the scale of the devastation and to ensure that the government responds swiftly and effectively,” Ramaphosa said. “We will not leave communities to face this disaster on their own.”
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has officially classified the severe weather conditions, which have ravaged Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, as a national disaster. The declaration enables the release of additional funding and resources to support affected provinces and municipalities.
Ramaphosa expressed concern over the loss of life, damage to homes, roads and bridges, and the disruption of essential services. “Our immediate priority is to provide relief to affected families, restore basic services and rebuild critical infrastructure,” he said.
The President reiterated his call for an all-hands-on-deck approach to weather-related disasters, urging cooperation across all spheres of government and the private sector. “These extreme weather events remind us that climate change is real and that we must strengthen our disaster preparedness and response mechanisms,” Ramaphosa added.
