GOOD press statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
13 April 2022
South African hearts are with KZN. As the torrential rains subside, the havoc wreaked by the floods is becoming clearer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their lives and suffered grave displacement.
Reports suggest that at least 45 people have lost their lives to these floods and we extend our condolences to those families as they mourn while rebuilding their lives.
We welcome the KZN provincial government declaring a state of emergency for the province. We also welcome the news that President Cyril Ramaphosa will today be visiting communities battered by the heavy rains.
GOOD hopes that these developments will mark the national government’s immediate intervention and coordinated intergovernmental response to ensure that the aid needed reaches those most affected.
It must not be forgotten that the eThekwini Metro suffered similar rains in 2019 and with these latest floods, it has become important for officials to put in place plans to invest in stormwater drainage and other measures to ensure that these natural disasters are mitigated as much as possible.
GOOD also calls on provincial governments to appropriate emergency resources and send aid to KZN where necessary. This will help assist the vulnerable and those affected by this environmental calamity.
Weather experts confirm that such severe low-pressure systems forming more than 30 degrees south of the equator are very rare. The lives lost and damages of this flooding are clearly part of climate change. South Africa, as one of the world’s major CO2 emitters thanks to the ANC’s desperate clinging to dirty coal power generation, must accelerate moves to cleaner energy sources to prevent worsening climate change impacts for ourselves, our neighbouring countries and the world at large.
We need all stakeholders on board to ensure that government, the private sector and civil society work together to protect against the immediate aftereffects of these floods as well as to take the action needed to mitigate the rising costs and consequences of climate change.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (WhatsApp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za