Madam Acting Speaker, the DA notes with deep regret the devastation caused by the torrential rain and flooding in the Eastern Cape. The area worst affected is the coastal strip between the Tsitsikamma and the Keiskamma Rivers. The loss of at least eight lives is especially tragic, and the DA extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved.
The enormous costs of the loss of private and public property, coupled with the costs of the damage to public infrastructure, such as roads, and water, electricity and other service infrastructure, will have a devastating impact on the province's already faltering economy. The affected local and district municipalities just do not have the financial means to deal with the scale of damage and the devastation caused by the flooding. In fact, it is clear that the province, too, will have to rely on the intervention and assistance of the National Treasury.
The closure of the N2 will result in a doubling of traffic load and volume on the R72, which is not designed for this volume of traffic, and which has not been adequately maintained. This situation will destroy one of the most critical roads in the province. Many of the unsurfaced roads in the province are also faced with maintenance backlogs of multiple years and are now impassable. This places even more economic strain and hardship on the rural communities.
We call on all three spheres of government to mobilise all necessary resources to effect immediate emergency repairs in the affected areas and to the main service delivery and economic infrastructure affected by the devastation of the flooding this weekend. Thank you.