At least 79 people lost their lives following torrential rains that triggered devastating floods in parts of the province. Traditional leaders have extended their condolences to the affected families while urging authorities to ensure long-term support for those displaced.

"Contralesa conveys our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the people who died due to the devastating disaster in the Eastern Cape," said Contralesa President, Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena.

"This is a wake-up call to our government, making sure that our infrastructure be of a higher quality."

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the affected areas to assess the damage and meet with families who lost loved ones. While Contralesa welcomed the visit, Mokoena stressed that it must lead to meaningful action.

"We hope the visit by the president is not a public relations exercise. We hope that the affected families will not be kept at those temporary shelters for a very long time like what happened in KwaZulu-Natal."

Mokoena also called on President Ramaphosa to formally declare the affected areas a national or provincial disaster zone, which would unlock additional resources for rebuilding and recovery efforts.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--