A town and regional planning expert says the government must act with caution should it decide to relocate families whose houses have been damaged by floods in parts of the Eastern Cape.

The government says many of the affected houses were built in flooding risk areas in Mthatha and Butterworth.

University of KwaZulu-Natal Professor Hangwelane Magidimisha-Chipungu says authorities need to consider a number of factors before any decision to move the affected residents is taken.

“But if then we find that the area is at the point where we cannot resuscitate it. We cannot build on it. We cannot afford, as the country to build on that particular piece of land. People need to be relocated. But we also need to come up with a sound relocation strategy. Where are you going to put them? Do you have a better way out, or what are the cost implications? Do you have the resources? And are you not going to disturb their livelihood? Because very often people in South Africa relocate themselves following economic activities of some sort. So, there should be a reason people choose a specific area.’

Eastern Cape Floods | Flood survivor’s still searching for missing family members:

Flood death toll rises

The death toll in the wake of the devastating winter storm that struck the Eastern Cape has risen to 86.

It was pegged at 78 yesterday.

Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed the latest figure while he was addressing police officers and emergency personnel in Mthatha.

“There are so many people who are deceased as it were and there is reference to the overall figure in the province rising up to 86.”

Eastern Cape Floods | Death toll has risen to 86