The Chris Hani District Municipality has activated a Joint Operations Committee (JOC) for coordination of operations for the Komani flooding, which began on February 8.
The JOC will serve as the center wherein support to the victims and affected institutions will be facilitated.
The first session of the JOC which was attended by key stakeholders was convened at the Chris Hani District Municipality Disaster Management Centre to deliberate on interventions to counter the drastic effects of the floods that befell the area.
Stakeholders included all sector departments which includes Health, Social Development, SASSA, Agrarian Reform in the region and Human Settlements.
Additional stakeholders included Provincial Legislature, Provincial Disaster Management, SAPS, Emergency personnel, Gift of the Givers, and the affected local municipality.
About 1 000 people including about 123 children and 24 infants are currently housed at Gali Thembani facility.
The number is expected to rise as the rain continues unabated.
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The Departments of Social Development and Human Settlements will continue with assessments to determine essentials required for all categories of the affected community including temporary shelters.
The Gift of the Givers is also onboard and has committed to provide humanitarian support ranging from mattrasses and blankets for the affected families.
The Queenstown Life Private Hospital and Queens Casino are adversely affected, compelling the hospital to relocate patients to nearby hospitals and the CHDM teams and volunteers worked tirelessly to drain water from the two premises using high-pressure pumps.
The Disaster Management team and Emergency Services are on standby monitoring the situation.
