Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube and Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mr Fundile Gade, form part of the Ministerial On-site Inspection Team headed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa.

The leadership collective received a briefing from local and provincial disaster management teams before visiting communities impacted by recent severe weather conditions to assess response measures aimed at safeguarding lives and livelihoods in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province.

“I am deeply distressed by the tragic incident that took place in Mthatha, involving a scholar transport vehicle that was swept away by the floods. MEC Gade and I will ensure that affected schools and families are supported during this time. I have been in contact with the President, the Minister of CoGTA, and the Eastern Cape MEC for Education, and I continue to receive regular updates from the provincial disaster management teams. We will work closely with the Eastern Cape Government and CoGTA over the coming days in order to make sure that we support our learners and educators during this disaster,” Minister Gwarube said.

Minister Hlabisa visited flood-affected communities in and around Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province on 12 June 2025, to assess the impact of the recent floods and evaluate the progress of ongoing disaster response efforts. The visit follows the urgent sitting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management (ICDM), convened by the Minister on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, aimed at coordinating a comprehensive national response to severe weather conditions that have impacted several provinces, but mostly the Eastern Cape.