SA likely to feel 'ripple effects' of Cyclone Kenneth
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in KwaZulu-Natal has warned residents of more looming storms.
Speaking at a media briefing, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the tropical cyclone headed for Mozambique is likely to cause more ripple effects for South Africa.
Cyclone Kenneth, the second to hit Mozambique in six weeks, is set to make landfall on Thursday in the northern region.
"As you would know that another storm is going to be hitting Mozambique. I think it has already started and that again means another ripple effect to the disasters as a result of this climate change. As you would know that as a country and a province, we are prone to disasters."
Heavy rains have lashed the province, tearing down homes and ravaging infrastructure. The death toll now stands at 85.
"I indicated that there has indeed been damage to a lot of infrastructure which includes the hospitals, however none of the hospital is not functioning, they continue to function."
On Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa cut short his visit to Egypt to assess the damage to the battered region of Amanzimtoti and pledged government funds to help those affected by the extreme weather.
Ramaphosa also said climate change might be at the centre of the unrelenting storms.
"The force of nature is so huge and that is partly what climate change is about - that it just hits when we least expect it."