KARIEGA, Eastern Cape – President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Kariega in the Eastern Cape on Friday, where he addressed the community, promising substantial government assistance in the wake of severe floods that have claimed at least nine lives and displaced thousands.

According to South African Government News Agency, the government will actively support the affected residents by providing temporary housing within 30 days for those who lost their homes and arranging accommodations for the displaced. "The storm has caused great damage in this place. Government must come and help and it will help. Government will come to help all of you," he stated during his visit.

The president also expressed his condolences and outlined the broader government response to the crisis. "It's a disaster and we are going to deal with it as a disaster," he explained. The local and provincial governments, along with their departments and the national departments, are fully mobilized. Support will extend to families who have lost loved ones, including social welfare assistance and the facilitation of burials.

Moreover, those injured in the floods are being cared for in hospitals, with assurances of quality healthcare. The president emphasized the comprehensive efforts to consolidate displaced residents into safe temporary accommodations, which are currently being prepared.

In addition to government efforts, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the contributions of local churches and the Gift of the Givers, a humanitarian organization known for its swift response to disasters. He praised their ongoing assistance to the flood victims, reinforcing the collective effort to aid recovery in the region. "We are grateful that we have our churches that have come through and helped the people. We also want to say thank you to other people, like the Gift of the Givers... They are very good and they move very quickly when there are disasters. We thank them for that... We are thankful to have an organization like the Gift of the Givers," he said.