Ministers from critical sectors to visit KwaZulu-Natal following floods

Ministers from several critical sectors are expected to visit KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday as part of ongoing assessments following the floods in the province.

President Ramaphosa addresses the nation on government’s response to widespread flooding:

The death toll currently stands at 443. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will inspect some schools that suffered damage last week.

More than 600 schools have been affected by the floods.  This damage is estimated at more than R400 million.

Mobile classrooms are being dispatched to prepare for the re-opening of schools this week. In some communities, classrooms are being used as shelters for displaced people.

KwaZulu-Natal Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi says they are looking at temporary measures to accommodate learners.

“One of the issues will be to temporarily accommodate them to other near neighbouring schools.  We are also looking into the implications of that in terms of psychological social issues of learners, a learner having to move to another environment. As to how we are going to be deploying educators and what happens to educators that will not be able to access the schools.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan will meet with Transnet officials at the Port of Durban. Contingency measures were implemented to ensure critical supply of fuel and medical items continued unhindered.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla will meet with local health officials at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi. The area is among the worst hit in the eThekwini Municipality.

KwaDukuza is another area that has been worst hit by the floods: