Parliament will establish an ad hoc committee to oversee the national state of disaster after flooding caused major devastation in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Eastern Cape last week.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also called for a joint sitting of Parliament to outline government's response. This will take place on Tuesday.

The National Assembly Programming Committee met on Thursday morning.

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula opened the meeting by referring to the "tragic events that unfolded in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape". She said the "devastating floods" will have a lasting effect not only on those directly affected, but on the whole country.

She said the disaster occurred while the country was still recovering from the economic hardship brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and last year's civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

"Given the tragic circumstances that confront us, it is imperative that Parliament play its part," she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula had received a letter from Ramaphosa "calling a hybrid joint sitting".

"This is to ensure that the elected representatives of the people of our country can be directly involved in oversight of the work that is needed to provide relief," she added.

She said African National Congress chief whip Pemmy Majodina had proposed that an ad hoc committee be established to oversee the state of disaster.

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Chief Whips' Forum agreed.

There seems to be unanimous support for the establishment of such a committee.

The National Assembly will establish the committee at a sitting scheduled for Tuesday at 12:00.

The joint sitting comprising the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces will start at 14:00. Parties will be allowed to respond to Ramaphosa's address.