Government establishes IMC for coordination of response to flood disasters

14 January 2011

An inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been established to coordinate government's response to the disasters afflicting various parts of the country.

The IMC is chaired by Minister of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs and includes Ministers of: Social development, Defence, Police, Water and Environmental Affairs, State Security, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Human Settlement, Basic Education.

The IMC agreed to work at declaring the areas affected by floods, thunderstorms. Veld fires that have left 40 people dead; scores injured; households damaged, stock killed and infrastructure destroyed, as a national disaster.

"We have to move with speed and in a coordinated manner in assisting the communities and affected areas. We take this opportunity on behalf of government to convey our message of condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones" said Minister of CoGTA Sicelo Shiceka after the IMC meeting.

Shiceka added, "Government will do everything it can to avoid loss of life as a result of floods and urges everyone to cooperate with disaster management personnel as they respond to disasters.

"Due to the heavy rains forecast for this weekend, we urge communities, particularly those in low-lying areas and those near rivers, to be vigilant and move to higher ground in the case of floods" said Shiceka.

The provinces that have been worst affected thus far are Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, North West, Free State and Northern Cape.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 338 3890

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
On behalf of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Disaster Management