Eastern Cape: The death toll from the floods that affected the Eastern Cape earlier this month has increased to 101, as confirmed by the provincial government.

According to South African Government News Agency, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Zolile Williams, shared during a media briefing that the victims include 63 adults and 38 children, with 32 of these children being learners. Two individuals remain missing following the disaster. The OR Tambo and Amathole Districts were the most severely impacted, experiencing significant loss of life, displacement, damage to infrastructure, livestock losses, and disruption in education.

Williams disclosed that the OR Tambo District reported 77 fatalities, Amathole District 10, Alfred Nzo District five, Chris Hani District five, Joe Gqabi District two, and Sarah Baartman District two. Public servants, who were among the first responders, were also counted among those who lost their lives.

The provincial government continues its disaster management response, focusing on Immediate Response and Humanitarian Relief. Efforts are in line with the District Development Model (DDM) approach and National Disaster Response Standard Operating Procedures, working in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and the private sector. Humanitarian partners such as Gift of the Givers, Al Imdaad Foundation, the Black Coffee Foundation, and Asfraful Aid, alongside corporates like Old Mutual and MTN, are actively reaching out to flood-affected communities.

Williams highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in emergency response and acknowledged the ongoing support from citizens. The government is appealing for continued assistance in the form of food, clothing, blankets, furniture, and other essentials. Some affected families have started to lay their loved ones to rest, with burial support provided by AVBOB, offering services such as body storage, burial, and transportation.

Williams also mentioned that 31 of the deceased would be buried across the provinces, including two learners from Jumba Senior Secondary School and an Enrolled Nursing Assistant, Nomonde Ntlabathi, with her three grandchildren. The Department of Education and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) have extended financial assistance to families for funeral preparations, and social partners have been providing groceries to those in need.