Eastern Cape Floods: Heavy Rain Claims 3 Lives, Hundreds Displaced

Councillor Thokozile Sokanyile, OR Tambo District Municipality Acting Executive Mayor, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families who suffered the devastating impact of floods in the Eastern Cape.

Torrential rain of March 23 caused flash flooding in Eastern Cape, resulting in the death of at least three people.

Sokanyile said that the bodies of the three individuals, identified as Fumanekile Mantshubaqa, 53, Asenathi Mkawusi, 24 and Mhlabunzima Sikhathele, 42, were recovered Friday following an extensive rescue mission, SA News reported.

"The bodies were recovered after the three people were reported missing at Rhole Village in Lusikisiki, Ingquza Hill Local Municipality," Sokanyile said in a March 25 statement.

Heavy downpours left a trail of destruction to households, businesses and other infrastructure in three of the most affected local municipalities, including Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo and Port St John. "In Port St Johns 10 bridges have been washed away making it difficult for the members of the community to access schools and nearby facilities," the Mayor said

Three local municipalities were seriously affected by the floods, including Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo and Port St John.

The OR Tambo Disaster and Risk Management teams are currently assessing the damages caused by the flooding.

Zimkhitha Macingwane, a municipality official, said that people affected by the flood will be provided assistance to recover their essentials such as ID cards.

"More than 500 people are there, including young children and school-going children," Macingwane said, according to EWN. "The Department of Social Development has committed that they are going to assist where necessary, especially with those who lost their documents and their uniform."

Oscar Mabuyane, Premier of the Eastern Cape, called for a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure there is a permanent solution to such infrastructure-related challenges, which locals in the Port St Johns region have been facing due to heavy rains every year.

Multiple videos surfaced only showing several regions submerged in water due to the heavy rains.

Community members in Port St Johns appealed for help after the flooding invaded their houses and washed away their belongings. An emotional flood victim revealed this was not the first time when her house got washed away in the rain.

"This is not the first time we see floods here, this is the third place my child has had to stay in. We would have to run elsewhere because of floods. Government must help build houses," Nonikile Mlomo told EWN. "We aren't feeling well at all with sleeping in this place, especially with my health condition."

Following the floods, Eastern Cape Premier visited the Port St Johns Youth Centre, which is accommodating people whose houses got soaked in water. Mabuyane made another visit to the road between Ports St Johns town and Second Beach to review the damage.