President Ramaphosa To Visit Flood-Affected Areas In Eastern Cape

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be visiting the flood-affected area in the eastern cape on Tuesday to inspect the damage done by the torrential rain that wreaked havoc in the region.

Torrential rain caused flash flooding in Eastern Cape last week and it resulted in the death of at least three people. Furthermore, it damaged private properties and public infrastructure.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency disclosed that President Ramaphosa would be accompanied by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thembi Nkadimeng and Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane during his visit.

Ramaphosa will interact with the "residents and other stakeholders, and to assess current response and recovery efforts, and further actions or resources needed to help communities ravaged," SA News reported.

The OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province has been affected by torrential rainfall on March 23 that caused flooding resulting in loss of life, displacement of communities, and damage to infrastructure.

Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, Nyandeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipalities were given early warnings on March 22 and 23 by the South African Weather Service.

"Government has activated a working Special Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management to provide support and relief to the affected communities," the Presidency said. "Teams comprising national, provincial and local spheres of government have been assessing the damage and providing emergency support in the form of shelter, food, blankets and other essentials."

Councillor Thokozile Sokanyile, who serves as OR Tambo District Municipality Acting Executive Mayor, previously confirmed that three bodies found on Friday have been identified as Fumanekile Mantshubaqa, 53, Asenathi Mkawusi, 24 and Mhlabunzima Sikhathele, 42.

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

The mayor also noted that the heavy downpours led to the destruction of 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 added.

Multiple videos surfaced on Twitter, showing several regions submerged in water due to flooding.

A municipality official, Zimkhitha Macingwane noted that people who were affected by the flood will be provided with assistance in order 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."

After the floods, people are accommodated in the Port St Johns Youth Centre as their houses are soaked in water.