National Disaster Declared After Severe Storms Hit Six Provinces

The move unlocks national coordination and funding for relief.

Overview

South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre classified the week‑long storms as a national disaster to speed a unified response across government.
The affected areas span the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga, where flooding, strong winds, thunderstorms and snowfall disrupted daily life.
COGTA said it will release money for recovery, which will help repair damaged roads and services and support people forced from their homes.
SAWS warned of another strong system for the Western Cape with very strong winds, 6–8 meter waves and possible storm surges along the coast.
Authorities pre‑positioned search and rescue teams and put Eskom rapid response units on standby as Cape Town reported blown roofs, flooded neighborhoods and the closure of Chapman’s Peak Drive.