by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG – CHARITY begins at home, Mr President. South African lives matter too.
That is how angry South Africans have reminded their head of state, President Cyril Ramaphosa, after he expressed his condolences to India and other countries that lost citizens in the plane crash in India on Thursday, before commiserating with scores dead in his own country.
“We share in your sadness and we extend our condolences to the bereaved families,” he said promptly after more than 240 people perished in Ahmedabad.
However, in Ramaphosa’s backyard, since Monday, floods have killed more than 70 people. He has come under immense criticism for going days without responding or offering his condolences.
“The first thing that came to my mind is the Eastern Cape. Why haven’t you spoken about the Eastern Cape and how your government has been failing every year to ensure safety in our coastal areas,” responded critic Justin Musa.
Ramaphosa later sent his condolences on Thursday but critics said this was too little too late and he had apparently prioritised those that passed away in India, a fellow member of the BRICS alongside South Africa.
The criticism of the president was unanimous.
“Eastern Cape has lost more than 70 people but all you care about is the pain of other countries,” Mo Madibi reacted to Ramaphosa’s condolences to the India tragedy.
Thobile Ngcobo concurred.
“Eastern Cape people are the only ones still voting for ANC, which is no longer wanted, but you don’t return favour with another favour. No Infrastructure there, no bridges,” Ngcobo said.
ANC is an abbreviation for the African National Congress, the main party in the Eastern Cape.
ANC had been at the helm of South Africa until the demise of apartheid and first elections in 1994 but was forced into a coalition government in 2024, after losing its majority.
“How the Eastern Cape’s citizens have been let down by Nelson Mandela’s ANC,” said analyst Marc Anderson.
Mandela (deceased), the global icon, born in the province, was the first democratically-elected president. His successor, Thabo Mbeki, is also from the province, which the ANC is accused of neglecting despite its stronghold.
Search and recovery efforts are frantically ongoing amid the worst flooding in South Africa in three years.
The impoverished province of the Eastern Cape is the epicentre of the inclement weather that has left at least 78 people dead by Thursday night. The KwaZulu-Natal province has suffered lesser flooding.
Heavy rain and snowfall have paralysed rescue efforts in what is arguably poorest of South Africa’s nine provinces.
Torrential rains over the past few days have caused devastating landslides and flooding, leaving hundreds of families displaced.
The adverse weather, partly blamed on the impact of climate change has also caused massive damage to critical infrastructure, including more than 120 schools since Monday.
While all provinces have experienced harsh incidents of extremely cold weather, with high winds and with coastal provinces experiencing rough seas, and rainfall, Eastern Cape is bearing the brunt.
Hundreds of families are displaced.
“Among them, we mourn the tragic loss of children whose scholar transport was swept away in floodwaters,” lamented Oscar Mabuyane, the premier of the Eastern Cape.
The four learners died together with the driver and a conductor of the minibus taxi.
Four learners were still missing at the time of publication.
In the Eastern Cape, the OR Tambo district municipality is the worst hit in the province as is the Amathole district and King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality.
The cabinet extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Government is coordinating rescue and support operations through both the National and Provincial Disaster Management Centres.
“Cabinet cautions everyone to be vigilant over the next few days due to the expected extreme weather conditions in most parts of the country.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) laid the blame on the government.
“This tragedy is a direct result of government neglect and failing infrastructure,” it stated.
Shelter, food, psycho-social services, blankets and other essentials are the main needs among affected families.
Ramaphosa eventually sent his condolences and was scheduled to be in the Eastern Cape on Friday.
“We must ensure that we build much needed capacity to effectively manage disasters in the long term,” he said.
In the coming days, drops in temperature, snowfall, strong winds and heavy rain are forecast.
Winter has peaked in South Africa, which largely receives rain during the months between November to early the following year. Locally, winters are synonymous with snowfall in some areas, not rain.
Incessant rains are blamed on climate change. Also, it is no longer strange to experience snow, as has been the case in months such as September, among the hottest here.
Early in 2022, flooding in KwaZulu-Natal left more than 300 people dead.
In June 2024, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal were hit by tornadoes that left 14 people dead.
