The South African government has declared a national disaster across six provinces after severe storms, freezing temperatures and gale-force winds battered parts of the country. The Western Cape and Eastern Cape have been hit hardest, with heavy rain and flooding cutting off communities and causing widespread damage.
Rescue efforts in the Garden Route have been slowed by strong winds, which have grounded helicopters needed to reach trapped residents. Disaster management official Gerhard Otto said emergency teams are working to clear fallen trees and reopen blocked roads. Many affected areas remain without water or electricity.
In Cape Town, officials are assessing damage in more than 40 informal settlements where roofs were ripped off homes and floodwaters entered houses. Disaster spokesperson Charlotte Powell said emergency shelters would be provided for families forced to evacuate. A woman was also injured when a tree fell onto her car in Plattekloof on Monday.
Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones during the floods. Authorities are now calculating the cost of the damage as recovery efforts continue.
Homeless shelters are also seeing a sharp rise in people seeking warmth and safety during the brutal winter weather.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
