National govt officials visit flood-hit Eastern Cape
Officials from national government descended on the Eastern Cape on Thursday to assess the impact of this week’s devastating floods.
Forty-nine people lost their lives after heavy rains and gale-force winds battered parts of the province, including Mthatha, on Tuesday.
Among the victims are 13 schoolchildren, a driver, and two passengers who were in a school bus that was swept away by floodwaters near the Dikolini River.
Two thousand people were left without a roof over their heads.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube hopes the four missing children will be found soon.
"We will also be visiting the families of the affected learners from that school because this has happened to about 13 learners, but I'm also glad that the province has also rolled out psychosocial support to not only the learners who are affected, the survivors but also the school in itself, the educators at the school, because of course this is a massive, massive tragedy. And on our side, we want to be able to make sure that we are supporting them."
READ: 2,000 displaced by Eastern Cape floods
Government officials will inspect the most severely affected parts of the O.R. Tambo District.
Speaking to the media before Thursday's on-site visit, Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa described the disaster as a tragic moment in the province’s history.
" Looking at the logistics of burying more than 49 people, as we are still anticipating the increase in numbers, as there are still learners who have not been discovered, is not going to be a small thing. We understand also the pressure it comes with in terms of looking for so many people having to be buried as a result of an instance that happened over one day."
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