South Africa to declare flood disaster

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

Perilous Times and Climate Change

15 January 2011 Last updated at 11:53 ET

South Africa to declare flood disaster

BBC - The government of South Africa is set to declare parts of the country disaster areas, after 40 people died in floods in a month.

The Minister for Co-operative Government, Sicelo Shiceka, told the BBC the move would happen this weekend.

Rains have hit the country from Kwa-Zulu Natal in the east to the Northern Cape in the west over the last month.

Thousands of homes have been flooded and people living along the Orange River have been evacuated.

Some bridges over the river have been closed, and the South African airforce have been helping in the evacuation.

Police divers are searching for the bodies of people who drowned.

President Jacob Zuma has formed a ministerial task force to tackle the issue, led by Mr Shiceka.

Mr Schiceka told the BBC his team would also look at long-term issues.

"Among other things we are looking at, is that people must not build in flood plains."

"People who have been displaced must not go back," said the minister.