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NATIONAL NEWS - The devastating weather across several provinces in South Africa, including the Garden Route, has led the government to declare a national disaster on Monday 11 May.

The head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Dr Elias Sithole, said the classification of a disaster will enable the government to intensify co-ordination and strengthen ongoing response and recovery efforts across all spheres.

"The classification follows widespread severe weather conditions experienced from 4 May, including heavy rainfall, flooding, thunderstorms, damaging winds and snowfall across the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga," Sithole said.

He added that the severe weather has resulted in the loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services.

Yesterday, 13 May, the Garden Route Disaster Management's head, Gerhard Otto, said many people in affected areas remain cut off. "Humanitarian relief teams continue to distribute food parcels and blankets to affected communities."

Otto said areas in Kammanassie, De Vlugt, Bo Kouga and Avontuur are still cut off. "George Municipality is in the process of obtaining the services of a helicopter to fly in aid to those areas. On the western side of our district, we are aware of the spilling of water due to the latest storms, and our teams are monitoring the rivers."

At least 500 people across the region were still housed in community halls on Wednesday 13 May.

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