Chairperson, friends and colleagues, my province, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Province, including other provinces such as the North West and Gauteng, have experienced floods. This was as a result of the heavy rainfall from around the first week of February which lasted for the whole of February.
As the permanent delegates of Mpumalanga, we visited the province in order to familiarise ourselves with the extent of the damage. We thus noted that the greatest effect of the damage was on the road networks and the water supply infrastructure, which are the basic means for service provision.
Amongst others, the following are the socioeconomic problems experienced. Communities are cut off from their workplaces as access roads and bridges have been either damaged or washed away. Emergency services such as health care and rescue operations cannot be rendered. Injured and sick people cannot be taken to hospitals and clinics. Funerals and other societal activities cannot take place. Late loved ones cannot be taken to mortuaries or be buried. Ordinary economic activities cannot take place. Business activities have been disrupted. People cannot get basic goods or fresh supplies. Schooling has been disrupted as schools are not accessible to children and teachers.
Health risks such as cholera, malaria and other are imminent as a result of inadequate potable water. Pollution of the environment occurs as a result of broken sewerage pipes and networks, while crime escalates as a result of the socioeconomic problems.
We hope that the pictures that the House has just seen or will see will expose the House to the damages suffered by the people in our province. The content of the video will reveal the damage in the greater Nelspruit area. When going out of this Chamber into the foyer, members will be able to view the content of the video. I hope that this exposure will give all some insight into the plight that our people are faced with.
We thank the national Government, the provincial government and the respective local governments, the private sector, NGOs, the SA Defence Force, the SA Police Service and the communities for acting swiftly to save lives, engaging in rescue operations and providing necessary supplies in respect of food, clothing, shelter, love and courage during the dark hour. Our condolences go to all who lost loved ones. God bless them. [Applause.]