• ⁠Families still searching for missing loved ones in the Eastern Cape areas affected by last month’s catastrophic floods have been urged to come forward with information to assist ongoing recovery efforts.
• The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has said more than 6 869 households across the province were affected by the disaster, with 4 724 homes destroyed and 2 145 partially damaged.
• The province has established a dedicated task team to assist bereaved families with the coordination of burial services support for all the deceased.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has called on families who are still searching for missing loved ones in the areas affected by last month’s catastrophic floods to come forward with information to assist ongoing recovery efforts.

“Your information is vital to help rescue teams determine if any individuals are still unaccounted for and to continue their search efforts,” Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Zolile Williams, said during a media briefing on Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

Giving an update on the provincial disaster management response and recovery, Williams reported that the total number of people who lost their lives remains at 103, with 100 of them being positively identified and laid to rest with dignity.

“One child is still missing, and the rescue teams are still searching. Three bodies remain unclaimed, two of which have not been positively identified through the national population register.

“The deceased include five government employees, one educator and two nurses, as well as two firefighters from the Department of Transport,” Williams said.

Williams said the province has established a dedicated task team to assist bereaved families with the coordination of burial services support for all the deceased.

“Government burial support was provided ranging from death registrations with home affairs, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department of Basic Education’s funeral support funding to families of deceased learners, distribution of groceries to needy families, [and] provision of burial services by AVBOB, as per need of the affected families,” Williams said.

Relief was also extended to survivors and families of the deceased through coordinated Social Relief of Distress measures.

Over 1 300 displaced people accommodated across centres

The MEC announced that more than 1 353 displaced individuals have been accommodated across mass care centres, while 122 are in temporary emergency accommodation, prioritising the most vulnerable groups, with full access to healthcare, food, sanitation, dignity packs, mattresses, blankets, and school uniforms.

He said more than 6 869 households across the province were affected by the disaster, with 4 724 homes completely destroyed and 2 145 partially damaged.

In response, the departments of social development, health, education, and the SASSA, along with non-governmental organisations, such as Al Imdaad and Gift of the Givers, provided emergency relief to the affected families and individuals.

“Beneficiaries were issued SASSA food vouchers to alleviate immediate food insecurity. To date, more than 1 353 displaced individuals have been accommodated across mass care centres and 122 in temporary emergency accommodation, prioritising the most vulnerable groups, with full access to healthcare, food, sanitation, dignity packs, mattresses, blankets, and school uniforms.

“Numbers at mass care centres are decreasing as people either seek shelter with their relatives or go back to their houses as they become habitable. Additionally, over 2 900 beneficiaries have received psychosocial support and dignity services through mobile teams and social workers deployed across the hardest-hit areas,” the MEC said.

The Department of Home Affairs has mobilised to assist disaster survivors in rebuilding their lives.

A total of 1 197 ID card applications has been received and are being processed, while 103 birth certificate applications have been finalised, with 22 certificates already collected by applicants. One hundred death certificates have also been registered and issued.

Recovery and resilience plan underway

Despite the challenges, the MEC confirmed that recovery plans are well underway. A key focus is on a multi-pronged approach to rebuilding and improving the province’s resilience.

“Infrastructure reconstruction will be prioritised and aligned with risk reduction principles, ensuring greater resilience against future disasters. For the next two to three months, it is critical for the government to have made strides in the implementation of infrastructure repair projects.

“The provincial government is also intensifying climate resilience planning and strengthening institutional capacity, including the debriefing and support of frontline responders, to ensure readiness and sustainability in future disaster responses,” Williams said.

The province is also in engagement with potential partners to build the much-needed capacity.

“While we support the victims of this disaster to rebuild their lives, it is equally important that we continue debriefing of teams that are involved in our response and recovery project. We remain indebted to these teams for the work they are doing,” Williams said.

First published in SAnews.gov.za on 17 July 2025