The Eastern Cape province has officially been declared a national disaster zone in response to the widespread destruction caused by recent severe weather events.
Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Zolile Williams said the declaration, made under the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002), comes amid heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds, and snowfall that have battered large parts of the country, with the Eastern Cape being the hardest hit.
Displaced families
Highlighting the provincial government response to the June disaster, Williams said the Department of Social Development, in partnership with private sector organisations, has extended crucial psychosocial support to displaced families, bereaved communities, and schools affected by the loss of learners.
“These services, which encompass counselling and emotional debriefing, are foundational to the healing and recovery process. Given the profound impact of the incident, we recognise this journey may be prolonged for those most deeply affected,” the MEC said.
The Department of Health has also deployed on-site healthcare services, providing medical assistance and replacing chronic medication that was swept away by the floods to those in need.
Ongoing assessments are also being conducted to assess health risks in temporary shelters.
Over 400 ID applications received
Williams also reported that the Department of Home Affairs has been active in various shelters across the Amathole and OR Tambo districts, assisting families with applications for essential documents, including Identity Documents (ID), birth and death certificates.
To date, 478 identity document replacement applications have been submitted, through assistance from three mobile units deployed in each of the two districts.
Local schools have resumed classes and provisions were made for learners who missed exams due to the disaster. Postponed examination papers were also written on 23 June 2025.
“Through the Department of Education, we have begun to deliver Learner and Teacher Support Material lost or destroyed during the disaster. We are also ensuring that uniform sets for learners in the flood affected schools has also resumed through the Provincial Department of Education.”
Restoration of basic services
Despite the devastation, significant progress has been made with the restoration of water and electricity in affected areas.
According to Williams, the electricity supply has been restored to over 80% of affected customers, with over 95% of the water supply having been restored in OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities, which were the most affected areas.
However, Williams noted that the floods caused significant damage to roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.
He said the costs of repairing damaged infrastructure is estimated at R5.1 billion, and this include about R3.2 billion required across sector departments and R1.8 billion for the Municipal Infrastructure, as per MISA (Municipal Infrastructure Support Management) assessments.
A total of 6 869 households were affected, with 4 724 people left homeless across the province, except for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, whilst 2 145 homes were partially damaged.
“R461 million is required for Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), however, the province has R120 million rand, and we are looking to national government for an intervention in this area,” Williams said.
Housing support and temporary shelters
The Department of Human Settlements, in partnership with OR Tambo District Municipality, has activated mass-care shelters, including community halls and bed-and-breakfast facilities for displaced families in OR Tambo and Mnquma.
Williams said these arrangements will be operational for at least 30 days.
“The Provincial Government is (also) securing land to facilitate the delivery of Temporary Residential Units and permanent housing, ensuring that our response addresses both urgent needs and long-term stability for these vulnerable communities.
“Currently, land has been identified in Mnquma for approximately 1 100 temporary residential units, while in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, land has been identified and we await a council resolution on the matter,” the MEC said.
The floods caused extensive damage to road infrastructure, with the total repair estimated at R935 million. The Department of Transport has reprioritised R102 million from its budget, leaving a shortfall of R832 million.
Emergency road clearance operations are underway, but 29 roads in Chris Hani and 22 in OR Tambo districts remain impassable. Internal teams began major repairs on 23 June 2025, and alternative routes are currently being used.
In terms of public facilities, 431 schools and 69 health centres have been affected across the province. suffered damage. Repair work to the value of R600 000 has been completed on healthcare facilities.
In the agricultural sector, interventions have been made in terms damage assessment, provision of veterinary services and technical advice.
“In the main, farmers have lost 1 339 units of livestock, 1 803 hectares of crops have been destroyed, suffered damages to machinery, irrigation material such as pipes and risers, water tanks and fencing materials,” Williams said.
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