At least 4,724 households are now homeless in the Eastern Cape province, according to the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), which reports that 6,869 households were affected in total.
This is a result of the Eastern Cape floods that happened earlier this month, which caused damage and deaths across the province. The main affected districts are Amathole and OR Tambo.
The COGTA report revealed that the impact of the deadly floods is multifold: loss of lives, displaced families, infrastructure damage, homelessness, livestock losses, learners missing examinations, disruption of basic services such as water and electricity, and disrupted access to healthcare, amongst others.
Infrastructure damage has been extensive across the province. According to the report, “A total of 431 schools and 69 health facilities have been affected to varying degrees: assessments have been completed and reprioritisation to start repairs is underway.”
The report further states that “An order amounting to R9 million has been issued for emergency repairs to health facilities and repair works to the value of R600,000 have been completed.”
Road infrastructure has suffered significant damage, with repair costs estimated at R935 million. The report notes that “R102 million has been reprioritised from the Provincial Department of Transport budget leaving a deficit of R832 million for which intervention is required.”
READ: Floods death toll reaches 100 across the Eastern Cape
“As an emergency response, road clearance commenced and currently fifty-one roads are still impassable in Chris Hani (29 roads) and OR Tambo Districts (22 roads): repairs are underway and further repair teams will be on sites from 23 June 2025, using internal capacity. In the meantime, alternative routes are being used,” the report added.
The report further revealed that the Eastern Cape government will need R461,459,216 to assist in the homeless crisis caused by the floods, however, the province only has R120 million available.
The report further revealed that the homeless people are housed both at Mass Care Centres (1,353 in total) and at Temporary Emergency Accommodation (122 in total), the report noted that the most vulnerable groups are being prioritised.
“The EC is in the process of prioritising the beneficiary lists for the homeless households. The process will be concluded by the end of the week,” the report added.
In response to the crisis, the Democratic Alliance’s Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL released a statement calling for coordinated relief efforts.
“Together we must ensure that every family displaced by these floods receives shelter, clean water, healthcare, psychosocial support and a path to rebuild,” Dr Knoetze said.
“The people of the Eastern Cape have shown extraordinary resilience. They deserve an equally determined response from all spheres of government and society at large.”
“Our focus now must be on restoring dignity, protecting aid workers and accelerating the massive reconstruction programme that lies ahead,” she added.
