South Africa declares flooding national disaster

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday declared a national state of disaster over the deadly floods on the east coast, warning that rebuilding even basic services will take time.

“This is a humanitarian disaster that calls for a massive and urgent relief effort,” he said in a televised address.

“The lives, health and well-being of thousands of people are still at risk.

“The Port of Durban, which is one of the largest and busiest shipping terminals on the continent and which is vital to our country’s economy, has been severely affected,” he said.

At least 443 people have died, with 48 still missing, around the east coast city of Durban, he said.

Some badly damaged areas remain inaccessible, he said, including 16 schools that are completely cut off.

The state of disaster, similar to measures imposed to fight the Covid pandemic, unlocks additional resources to help rebuild.

To ease concerns around corruption which plagued Covid efforts, Ramaphosa said the government would create a special oversight body that will include the auditor-general, business and religious groups, as well as professional associations of engineers and accountants.

Earlier on Monday, the military said 10,000 troops were deployed to help restore power and water and search for the missing.

But hopes for finding the missing were fading.

Clyde Naicker said his brother Ronald had been missing for a week, since he disappeared while trying to get to his job in a hospital.

“Apparently from what we heard, his vehicle got flooded and then he tried to go to safety,” Naicker said.

The family has been searching every day, but police only joined their effort on Monday.