Government has raised concern over the continued occupation of flood-prone and low-lying areas, warning that it is worsening the impact of the severe weather conditions affecting large parts of South Africa.
The recent wave of storms and flooding has impacted six provinces, including the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, North West and Mpumalanga.
Authorities say persistent heavy rain has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, homes and communities, prompting government to classify the situation as a national disaster.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, said many of the deaths and much of the destruction linked to the storms could have been avoided if communities were not living in high-risk areas such as floodplains.
Speaking to SABC News, Hlabisa said some residents continue to build in unsafe areas despite repeated warnings from authorities.
“The first problem is people living in floodplains. These areas are not suitable for human occupation. We want to appeal to communities living in these areas to take the initiative to relocate because government does not allocate land on floodplains,” he said.
Hlabisa described the latest weather-related devastation as tragic, confirming that at least eight people have lost their lives as a result of the storms.
“Once again, it is very sad when we look at the devastation caused by the latest severe weather conditions,” he said.
Despite government’s disaster declaration, concerns have been raised over the pace at which relief is reaching affected communities, with critics questioning whether declarations are translating into meaningful support on the ground.
Hlabisa defended the state’s response, saying assistance processes are already underway, although rebuilding efforts take time.
“People cannot receive a house today if they were affected yesterday. However, resources allocated to municipalities in March mean interventions can begin immediately instead of communities waiting months or years for assistance,” he said.
He explained that municipalities are first required to assess the extent of damage before submitting reports to provincial and national authorities for verification and the allocation of disaster funding.