The Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, paid a visit to the coastal town of Port St Johns, which had been hard-hit by floods, last week.
Mabuyane said heavy rains have caused flooding in some parts of the province, endangering the lives of communities and displacing many.
“Various sectors of government are mobilising assistance and resources so as to respond adequately in saving lives and livelihoods in all affected communities. Disaster management teams will continue to be on standby to provide assistance where required,” said Mabuyane. He added that they urged residents to be extra vigilant and exercise caution, especially in areas prone to flooding.
The Spokesperson for OR Tambo District Municipality, Zimkhita Macingwane, confirmed that the heavy downpours have left many areas of the district affected as infrastructure, houses, recreational facilities and businesses have been flooded. “A power outage has affected the network connection and the functionality of the Mzimvubu and Port St Johns Water Treatment Works. This has led to the water and sanitation treatment plants in the area to be down. The OR Tambo Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation directorate is still investigating the extent of the damages,” said Macingwane. She confirmed that a section of the R61 road, not far from Isinuka area, had been washed away.
According to the public relations officer for Sajonisi Woods Forum, Andile Mzungule, many community members were left homeless and did not have clothes, as their stuff was damaged by heavy rains after their houses submerged due to heavy rains in this area. He said that they were accommodated at the Port St Johns Youth Centre in Port St Johns.
“It’s been the third time now that our community is facing this problem. The last incident happened in 2020; even then people were left homeless. Residents who are residing at Green locality were asked several times to leave that place, but they do not want to leave,” said Mzungule. He added that government had even built houses for them at Mahenge locality, but they refused to stay there, saying they will be far from town.
“It is painful because children cannot go to school, because they have nothing and they are also staying in these centres.” One of the victims, who is also an employee from Port St Johns Local Municipality, Thabiso Koyana (57), said he is one of the people who are now homeless because his house was also destroyed by heavy water. “My children did not go to school because they have nothing to wear. What is worse, I bought my site from the municipality. I did not know that I would end up facing this problem,” said Koyana
