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WENDY MOTHATA|
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday night that over 270 000 learners have been affected by the deadly floods in KwaZulu-Natal.
The president also confirmed that over 600 schools were also affected in record flooding ranking among one of the worst natural disasters in South African history..
Ramaphosa made the announcement during his address to the nation following a special Cabinet meeting on Sunday where government assessed the social and economic aftermath of the flooding in KwaZulu Natal.
Ramaphosa said that there had been extensive damage to public infrastructure in general, including at schools, health
facilities, police stations and local magistrates’ courts.
“It is estimated that over 270,000 learners have been affected and over 600 schools have been damaged,” Ramaphosa told the nation during a live address.
He further added that most of the affected schools cannot be accessed due to the damage to connecting national roads and bridges.
“We are saddened by the reports that a number of learners and at least one educator have died. Sixty-
six public health care facilities have been affected, although there has been minimal disruption to health
services in most affected districts,” he said.
“To ensure an effective response to these tragic events, the National Disaster Management Centre last
week declared the flooding as a provincial disaster. This was followed by the declaration of the Premier
of KwaZulu-Natal to invoke extraordinary measures to deal with the situation.”
The president said that extensive work is underway to restore basic services such as water, electricity,
sanitation and waste removal – to various areas in the province.
“The efforts are being hampered by to damage to main supply systems and the inaccessibility of some areas,” he said.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to visit KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday to assess the extent of the damage caused by the floods and to meet with the provincial education department.
Motshekga and KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu are set to visit affected schools in the province.
The department of basic education said the latest statistics showed that 630 schools were affected, 101 were inaccessible and 124 have suffered extensive damage.
Most of the schools which were damaged had either flooded classrooms, leaking roofs or broken windowpanes.
It has been reported 57 pupils died and five are missing.
Rescue and recovery processes are ongoing in the province.
The department confirmed one teacher and food handler was reported to have died in the floods that hammered the province last week.
The department said that the 600 schools that are damaged required urgent attention.
“We are saddened that so many lives have been lost and we would like to express our deepest condolences to all affected families and relatives. It is such a tragic loss and our prayers go out to those who have lost their family members and those who lost their belongings,” said Motshekga.
“This is a catastrophe and the damage is unprecedented. What is even more worrying is that more rain is expected in the same areas that are already affected.”
INSIDE EDUCATION