Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The Minister for Provincial and Local Government, Sydney Mufamadi is concerned about the effects of continuing disaster caused by rain particularly in the Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the North West provinces. The Minister today conveyed his deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims of these unfortunate disasters and pleaded government's solidarity with all affected communities.
The Ministry is in constant contact with both the cabinet members and senior officials of the affected Provinces and is kept abreast of all developments. The Ministry is also being informed of the extent of the loss of life and damage to property, crops and livestock by the staff of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), locate in the Department of Provincial and Local Government in Pretoria.
A team of officials for ten national government departments has been dispatched to inspect the extent of the damage in the Northern Province and Mpumalanga today (11 February 2000).
The team includes members of the:
South African Police Service; South African National Defence Force; National Operational Co-ordinating Committee; Department of Welfare; Department of Transport; Department of Agriculture; Department of Water Affairs; Department of Health; Department of Provincial and Local Government; and Department of Public Works.
The team will present a report on their findings to a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management (Chaired by the Ministry For Provincial and Local Government) scheduled for Tuesday 15 February 2000, with recommendations on assistance to be provided to those provinces by national government.
We would like to commend the prompt action by members of the local and provincial rescue teams, as well as the security forces.
The rescue operations were undertaken promptly and efficiently, and resulted in evacuation of people and property endangered by the floods. We are satisfied that with this kind of commitment, the situation will speedily be brought under control.
ISSUED BY THE GCIS ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY FOR PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 11 February 2000 For More Information Contact: Freddy Pilusa: Acting Media Liaison Officer Cell: 082-498-2001