Hospital calls on army for help
The Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital has had to call on the South African Defence Force (SANDF) for help after floods caused chaos in the province this weekend.
The SABC reported that service at the hopital, which is in Mthatha, had been severely hampered because flood damage resulted in it having no running water.
“Unfortunately it is a disaster that cannot be addressed overnight,” the SABC quoted Provincial Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo as saying.
“We have approached the South African National Defence Force for assistance as well as the municipality.”
Attempts were being made to bring in water to the hospital, but the shortage meant that only emergency cases were being considered.
The heavy weather resulted in at least 10 deaths in the province at the weekend. Mthatha was one of the hardest hit by the rains, while the Umzimvubu River just outside Port St John’s also burst its banks.
MEC for Local Government Mlibo Qoboshiyane told the television station that the government was taking the first steps to having the affected regions declared disaster areas. The rains also affected Qunu, Tsolo, Mqanduli and Lusikisiki.
The Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital has had to call on the South African Defence Force (SANDF) for help after floods caused chaos in the province this weekend.
The SABC reported that service at the hopital, which is in Mthatha, had been severely hampered because flood damage resulted in it having no running water.
“Unfortunately it is a disaster that cannot be addressed overnight,” the SABC quoted Provincial Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo as saying.
“We have approached the South African National Defence Force for assistance as well as the municipality.”
Attempts were being made to bring in water to the hospital, but the shortage meant that only emergency cases were being considered.
The heavy weather resulted in at least 10 deaths in the province at the weekend. Mthatha was one of the hardest hit by the rains, while the Umzimvubu River just outside Port St John’s also burst its banks.
MEC for Local Government Mlibo Qoboshiyane told the television station that the government was taking the first steps to having the affected regions declared disaster areas. The rains also affected Qunu, Tsolo, Mqanduli and Lusikisiki.
