Six months after catastrophic floods killed 101 people, including schoolchildren, in the Mthatha region, an estimated R1.7 billion is required to resolve housing needs for the displaced, a delegation from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has heard.
The Eastern Cape delegation, led by NCOP delegate leader Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, conducted an oversight visit to assess the ongoing relief efforts. The June 2025 floods, declared a national disaster, destroyed homes and infrastructure, leaving over 600 people still living in temporary care centres.
Inkosi Nonkonyana reported that a multi-sphere government effort, involving the OR Tambo District Municipality, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, provincial, and national departments, is managing the crisis. Temporary accommodation has been provided through prefabricated houses at Mdeni Farm near Mthatha and in a communal hall.
“The government is taking lawful and legal steps to make sure that they are provided [with] a place that is not going to cause them any harm in the future,” Nonkonyana stated, acknowledging that many victims had built homes on flood-prone land along riverbanks.
However, the path to permanent housing is contingent on resolving complex issues. Nonkonyana identified the key challenges as the procurement and demarcation of suitable land—a process being worked on with traditional leaders and the Department of Land Affairs—and the verification of legitimate beneficiary lists to prevent fraud.
The cited R1.7 billion figure, revealed by municipal officials, is currently focused on the immediate Mthatha area. Nonkonyana emphasized that the entire Eastern Cape, being prone to such disasters, requires a broader funding appeal. The NCOP delegation has requested detailed evidence from provincial authorities within 14 days to compile a comprehensive report to secure necessary national funding.
While expressing frustration over the timeline, noting that “6 months on is a very long time,” Nonkonyana cited government assurances that “concrete plans” should be in place by Christmas. He stressed the collaboration between public and private sectors, including entities like the Black Coffee Foundation, in providing daily and weekly support with beds, blankets, and toilets.
When pressed on ultimate accountability, Nonkonyana affirmed that while the national government takes the lead once a disaster is declared, all three spheres of government are working jointly. He pledged rigorous oversight to prevent delays.
The disaster has underscored critical lessons. “There is a need to really put our people on land that is not going to be prone to these disasters,” Nonkonyana said, adding that communities must also partner with government and avoid informal settlement on dangerous land to avoid repeating the tragedy.
The delegation is expected to submit its final report to the NCOP, which will include demanded timelines from departments, by early 2026.