Latest news with #DisasterManagementAct57
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Eastern Cape declared national disaster zone after devastating floods
The Eastern Cape has officially been declared a national disaster zone following widespread destruction caused by recent severe weather events. Eastern Cape Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams said the declaration, made under the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, comes after heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds and snowfall battered large parts of the country, with the Eastern Cape being the hardest hit. The death toll from the devastating floods that struck the Eastern Cape earlier this month has risen to 101, the provincial government confirmed yesterday. Read more: Flood tragedy in Eastern Cape: 38 children among 101 dead Highlighting the provincial government's response to the June disaster, Williams said the Department of Social Development, in partnership with private sector organisations, has extended crucial psychosocial support to displaced families, bereaved communities and schools affected by the loss of learners. 'These services, which encompass counselling and emotional debriefing, are foundational to the healing and recovery process. Given the profound impact of the incident, we recognise this journey may be prolonged for those most deeply affected,' said Williams. The Department of Health has deployed on-site healthcare services, providing medical assistance and replacing chronic medication swept away by the floods. Ongoing assessments are being conducted to evaluate health risks in temporary shelters. Over 400 ID applications received Williams said the Department of Home Affairs has been active in shelters across the Amathole and OR Tambo districts, assisting families with applications for essential documents, including IDs, birth and death certificates. To date, 478 ID replacement applications have been submitted, with three mobile units deployed in each of the two districts. Local schools have resumed classes, and provisions were made for learners who missed exams due to the disaster. Postponed examination papers were written on Monday. 'Through the Department of Education, we have begun to deliver learner and teacher support material lost or destroyed during the disaster. We are also ensuring that uniform sets for learners in the flood-affected schools are being delivered,' Williams said. Restoration of basic services Despite the devastation, significant progress has been made in restoring water and electricity in affected areas. According to Williams, electricity supply has been restored to over 80% of affected customers, and over 95% of water supply has been restored in the OR Tambo and Amathole district municipalities, which were the hardest hit. However, the floods caused extensive damage to roads, schools and healthcare facilities. The cost of repairing damaged infrastructure is estimated at R5.1b, including about R3.2b required across sector departments and R1.8b for municipal infrastructure, as per Municipal Infrastructure Support Management assessments. A total of 6 869 households were affected, with 4 724 people left homeless across the province — excluding the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality — while 2 145 homes were partially damaged. 'R461m is required for Temporary Residential Units (TRUs). However, the province has R120m, and we are looking to national government for intervention in this area,' said Williams. Housing support and temporary shelters The Department of Human Settlements, in partnership with the OR Tambo District Municipality, has activated mass-care shelters, including community halls and bed-and-breakfast facilities, for displaced families in OR Tambo and Mnquma. These arrangements will remain in place for at least 30 days. 'The provincial government is also securing land to facilitate the delivery of temporary residential units and permanent housing, ensuring our response addresses both urgent needs and long-term stability for these vulnerable communities. 'Currently, land has been identified in Mnquma for approximately 1 100 TRUs, while in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, land has been identified and we await a council resolution on the matter,' said Williams. The floods also caused extensive damage to road infrastructure, with total repair costs estimated at R935m. The Department of Transport has reprioritised R102m from its budget, leaving a shortfall of R832m. Emergency road clearance operations are underway, but 29 roads in Chris Hani and 22 in OR Tambo districts remain impassable. Major repairs began on Monday, and alternative routes are being used. In terms of public facilities, 431 schools and 69 health centres were affected across the province. Repairs worth R600 000 have already been completed at healthcare facilities. Agricultural sector impact In the agricultural sector, interventions include damage assessments, provision of veterinary services and technical advice. 'In the main, farmers have lost 1 339 units of livestock, 1 803 hectares of crops have been destroyed, and they have suffered damage to machinery, irrigation material such as pipes and risers, water tanks and fencing materials,' said Williams. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
09-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Rise in foodborne illnesses in Cape Town
The City's Microbiology Laboratory tests thousands of samples annually to ensure that the food Capetonians eat, is safe. Image: Supplied THE City has seen a steady rise in reported foodborne illnesses over the last three years, with analysis from recent food samples showing non-compliant food safety standards of around 15%. In just a 10-month period since July 2024, the City's laboratory received 4853 samples from Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from a range of food handlers, which were subjected to 17 759 analyses. The results revealed an overall compliance rate of just over 80%, raising concerns about food safety standards. Last year, a spike in foodborne illness cases claimed the lives of 22 people, including children and resulted in nearly 900 reported incidents over just a few months. The severity of the situation prompted the National Disaster Management Centre to classify it as a national disaster under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002. With World Food Safety Day observed at the weekend, under the theme 'Food Safety is Everyone's Business', officials said foodborne diseases are a growing public health concern. The Professional Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) noted that in South Africa, between October 2023 and February 2024, 1 399 cases of foodborne illness were reported. However, they said only severe outbreaks are typically reported, suggesting the real numbers are likely higher. According to the City, from July 2022 to April 2025, they saw a steady increase in foodborne illness in Cape Town. City Health's Food Microbiological Laboratory and Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) do bacterial sampling of food sold across the metropole. 'Tests are conducted generally on ready to eat products, dairy products and even sushi and baked goods - the laboratory also conducts testing of samples in cases of foodborne illnesses. EHPs collect samples from a range of food handling, production and processing environments, from manufacturers to retailers and takeaways, premises like ECDs and old age homes, and even informal traders and spaza shops. 'This testing is essential for identifying unhygienic conditions, poor food handling practices and possible contamination to prevent potential outbreaks. Over a 10-month period since July 2024, the laboratory received 4 853 samples that were subjected to 17 759 analyses. The sample results yielded an overall compliance rate of 84,55%,' the City said. The Food Microbiological Laboratory provides the scientific evidence necessary to uphold food safety standards, support public health policies, and enable safe food trade and consumption. Image: Supplied Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham said the increase could be explained by the easing of Covid-19 restrictions which saw the return to normal food handling, dining, and social behaviours. 'This may have led to increased exposure to foodborne pathogens and a rebound in reported cases. The increase in notifications, especially in 2024, may also reflect better detection, reporting, and surveillance systems as public health operations normalised post-pandemic, contributing to improved surveillance and reporting. However, as the underreporting of foodborne illness in South Africa is known to be extensive, the actual incidence is likely to be far higher, which reinforces the need for regular testing of foodstuffs in the public domain," said Hingham. The HPCSA explained that foodborne diseases result from consuming contaminated food, either during production, storage, or handling. Contaminants include bacteria, viruses, and environmental pollutants from water, soil, or air.
