Policy: Floods State of Disaster extension likely – Minister

Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says the declaration of the national State of Disaster, due to the deadly floods in KZN and parts of the Eastern Cape, was likely to last for up to three months with the possibility of government extending the legislation. According to Dlamini-Zuma, government is permitted by law to declare a national State of Disaster for a period of three months. But due to the extensive damage to public infrastructure, the Disaster Management Act was likely to be extended, reports The Citizen. The National Disaster Management Centre announced that eight task teams were appointed to deal with humanitarian relief efforts and other interventions in the affected provinces. Meanwhile, the Water & Sanitation Department told Parliament of the extensive storm damage in KZN which disrupted telecommunications, supply of electricity and water, and port and rail terminals. EWN reports sewerage networks were also damaged, which caused effluence to flow into the ocean. Meanwhile, the death toll is steadily mounting with the latest figure close to 450.