Pretoria – The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, and the South African Weather Service will on Tuesday embark on a severe weather awareness road show in Limpopo.
The road show follows a severe, cut-off low pressure system in January, which led to floods in the north-eastern parts of the country.
The Vhembe district and north western parts of Limpopo, as well as parts of Mpumalanga were most affected. A number of people were killed, and the floods also swept away bridges, roads and fertile agricultural soil.
The Vhembe district was declared a disaster area.
Mabudafhasi said that the aim of the road show was to develop a “weather ready” nation that knows what to do by responding appropriately to severe weather warnings.
“Disaster preparedness is important in the case of severe weather events.
“The South African Weather Service, in cooperation with disaster management, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, municipalities and other role players are reaching out to affected communities through a public awareness drive that will educate the public and empower them with the ability to act,” Mabudafhasi said on Monday.
During the road show, Mabudafhasi -- accompanied by the mayors of Vhembe, Tshitereke Matibe and Thulamela Local Municipality, Grace Mahosi -- will visit the affected homes.
She will later interact with the public at Thohoyandou town hall in Vhembe. – SAnews.gov.za
