By REGINALD KANYANE
23 June 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Sunday conveyed condolences to families that lost their loved ones in the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape. This is as the death toll climbed to 92 after two more bodies were recovered.
SAUCIC President Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole said their thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, including those who are still searching for their loved ones in ongoing search and recovery operations. Shole said they also wish those who survived the worst natural disaster in the history of the country a speedy recovery.
“We would like to commend the government’s speedy intervention that has resulted in restoration of critical services such as water and electricity, roll-out of relief effort and declaration of a State of Disaster to assist flood victims.
“This includes the deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to bolster search and recovery operations. We also express appreciation for the supporting role played by the churches and traditional leaders,” he said.
Shole further said this includes coordination by the National and Provincial government, the Department of Social Development, the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities, NGO’s as well as humanitarian organisations like Gift of the Givers. He added that the rate at which their rural communities are experiencing natural disasters as a result of climate change calls for a review of disaster management strategies.
“This calls for protocols to empower communities to respond timeously and adequately whenever they experience such disasters. So, we appeal for compassion for victims emphasizing that those who were left displaced and homeless must be speedily assisted to rebuild their lives.
“Accountability mechanism must be put in place to safeguard mobilised resources against opportunistic and corrupt elements that will not resist the temptation to benefit at the expense of the plight of victims,” said Shole.
He stressed that infrastructure development including rollout of housing as well as road construction projects including the on-going project to build access bridges through the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme must be expanded to mitigate against flooding.
Shole said while they acknowledge that the inherited infrastructure backlog is huge, no effort must be spared to ensure that their rural communities are not left behind.
The Guardian 