In his state of the nation address on Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the heavy rains and floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape as a national state of disaster (days after it had been declared as a provincial disaster).
To date, 443 lives have been lost.
Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of using the national disaster as an opportunity to reconstruct and rehabilitate certain parts of the country with no corruption or mismanagement.
The incumbent president said that South Africa must invest more money in climate change to protect residents. He also confirmed that a relief fund will be made available “via the Solidarity Fund and a special structure is being set up to guard against corruption.”
“These floods are a tragic reminder of the increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions as a result of climate change,” he said. “We need to increase our investment in climate adaptation measures to better safeguard communities against the effects of climate change.”
In entertainment news, the first weekend of Coachella 2022 may be over, but fans are still buzzing from the unforgettable performances from Harry Styles, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and Swedish House Mafia x The Weeknd.
Saturday, Billie Eilish made history and renowned K-pop duo 2NE1 reunited onstage. On Sunday, Karol G and Doja Cat closed the festival with star-studded, spectacular performances.
Here are the top trending stories of the day.
Headline: JUST IN | Load shedding jumps to Stage 4 – News24
Headline: SA must spend more on climate adaptation, says Ramaphosa, as KZN floods become national disaster – Business Insider
Headline: The cute, the hot, the freaky | Best of Coachella 2022 – eNCA
Headline: Tragedy as Cristiano Ronaldo announces death of newborn son: ‘The greatest pain a parent can feel’ – News24
Headline: Defending champ Steyn thanks supporters with record win – Sowetan Live
Headline: The Best-Dressed Performers From Coachella 2022 – Nylon
Headline: No trust in SA government: KZN flood aid commitment met with cynicism & derision – Daily Maverick
Headline: Jaden Smith Reacts to Being Mocked Over Resurfaced Clip of Comments About People His Age With His Own Joke – Complex
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