By Olebogeng Molale
The Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul has declared this province the
State of Disaster after floods sparked by heavy seasonal rains damaged houses and infrastructure in some areas around the province, such as the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
This was announced by the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass during a media briefing. Vass explained that Since December last year leading into early January 2021, the province has experienced above-normal rainfall in many parts. These downpours resulted in severe flooding, resulting in damage to infrastructures such as roads, houses, farms and crops.
“This has drastic implications on the livelihoods of communities in affected areas. Some of the communities are displaced and farmers are left stranded due to the damaged road infrastructure.”
According to reports in John Taolo Gaetsewe District, municipal areas that have been severely affected are Joe Morolong, Gasegonyana, and Gamagara. In the Joe Morolong Local Municipality, several villages, 313 households are damaged and three people died.
Vass has sent a message of condolences to the affected families and promised that the provincial government would continue to intervene.“ The Provincial Government is expressing our deepest and most sincere condolences to all the families that have lost loved ones due to the floods and rains. We also applaud our disaster management in the Districts for their swift response to evacuate people resulting in the prevention of further loss to life. Our sincere sympathy also goes to all businesses and households that lost property or suffered destruction.” said Vass
The distraught Karabo Gaoboihe from Wyk 7 Gasehunelo Village in Kuruman said
, “the situation is unbearable. Going to town to get necessities is difficult. The electricity is not working,g but we are hopeful that government will come up with interventions so that life can go back to normal”.
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