Dlamini-Zuma blasted for extending the state of disaster news in a minute video state of disaster

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Twitter/DlaminiZuma

Dlamini-Zuma: KwaZulu-Natal to be declared a disaster area

COGTA Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said national government would be meeting over the KwaZulu-Natal floods

Dlamini-Zuma blasted for extending the state of disaster news in a minute video state of disaster

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Twitter/DlaminiZuma

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is set to declare a state of disaster in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), following days of heavy rainfall and flooding.

That’s what the minister told eNCA on Tuesday, 12 April 2022. Parts of the province have been the scene of devastation after heavy downpours wreaked havoc, causing flooding.

Images and videos on social media show the extent of the flooding, including vehicles, homes and infrastructure submerged in water.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: Were the KZN floods caused by climate change? The answer is complicated…

DLAMINI-ZUMA: GOVERNMENT TO MEET OVER KZN FLOOD DAMAGE

The flooding in KZN has left thousands of people destitute as their homes have been washed away, while dozens of people have also died. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told eNCA that national government were set to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the flooding and that support would be given to the province.

When asked by eNCA’s Siphamandla Goge whether she would be supporting a move to declare KZN a disaster area, Dlamini-Zuma said: “Yes, of course we are because it is a disaster. There is no way we can say it is not. We are going to support, that is why I am and we are going to have a national meeting at 20:00 to look at this situation which is really tragic”

It comes as opposition parties have already been making calls for such, including the DA in KZN which said the poor service delivery (or lack thereof) worsened the impact of the flooding.

“Today, the DA calls on KZN CoGTA MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, and his Department to take all proactive steps possible and provide on-the-ground assistance to local municipalities. They must also roll up their sleeves and provide the necessary support now to ensure the safety of our citizens,” said DA MPL Martin Meyer.

“We will also be calling on the MEC to conduct a full audit on the level of basic service delivery within municipalities and to take real action. As the world experiences climate change, these types of extreme weather conditions will become the norm. KZN’s provincial government needs to show that it is a caring government by becoming more pro-active in preparing for such disasters,” Meyer added.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: KZN floods: DA calls on Bheki Cele to stunt the early reports of looting