Gauteng Premier David Makhura said on Friday he intended to declare some parts of Gauteng disaster areas following this week’s fierce flash floods in the province.
“We are taking the necessary steps to declare a disaster so that we can tap into all available resources to assist those affected by the flash floods and ongoing heavy downpours to rebuild their lives,” Makhura said in a statement.
This comes after the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metro both experienced floods on Wednesday that killed at least six people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, homes and cars.
Makhura, who was attending the International Investment Conference in Namibia at the time, received a report from MEC for Human Settlements Paul Mashatile on the casualties and scale of the damage.
Mashatile was the acting Premier in Makhura’s absence.
“A significant number of our citizens from across Gauteng are continuing to be displaced as the heavy rains continue into the weekend,” Makhura said.
“Provincial and local government disaster management teams have been doing a great job in assisting to provide temporary relief to those affected.”
Makhura said the provincial government, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni municipalities would continue to work together to assist those affected by the floods and attend to necessary infrastructure repairs and upgrades to prevent future disasters of this nature.
The provincial government has urged Gauteng residents to be extra cautious this weekend as more floods were anticipated.
The South African Weather Services has issued another warning of heavy storms during the weekend until at least Sunday as heavy rain fall was expected throughout the country.