Gauteng government declares disaster areas
The Gauteng Executive Council has declared a state of disaster in parts of the province affected by recent flash floods.
The flash floods left thousands of people homeless, with the area next to the Jukskei River in Alexandra especially hard hit.
"The flash floods caused loss of lives, extensive damage to residential properties and major traffic jams on the N3 highway with several vehicles swept away and others completely submerged in water. The OR Tambo International Airport was also severely impacted by the flash floods leading to suspension of services for several hours," says provincial government spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane.
Sekonyane says there is a risk of negative impacts - socially and economically - with more extreme weather predicted over the next few months.
"Production levels may be affected as people have to leave work early and the schooling programme and social services, such as health care, may be disrupted in areas where public property is damaged by extreme weather," says Sekhonyane.
Premier David Makhura will issue a notice in the provincial gazette declaring a state of disaster in areas affected by extreme weather.
"The immediate concern of the Gauteng Provincial Government is to assist in whatever way possible the needy and vulnerable who have been displaced as a result of serious damages to their homes," says Sekhonyane.