Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Tertuis Simmers
Over the past week, severe weather conditions caused widespread disruption across our province. Heavy flooding, infrastructure damage, road closures and power outages affected thousands of residents, families and businesses. Tragically, lives were also lost.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape extends our deepest condolences to every family mourning the loss of a loved one.
Yet even during destruction and uncertainty, we witnessed courage, resilience, and service.
While many sought safety from the storm, emergency personnel, disaster management teams, municipal workers, road crews, law enforcement officers, volunteers and community organisations ran toward the danger.
In treacherous conditions, they worked tirelessly to clear roads, restore electricity, protect infrastructure, assist vulnerable residents and help communities recover swiftly.
To every frontline worker and volunteer: we thank you. The people of the Western Cape are deeply grateful for your sacrifice, professionalism and commitment.
We also thank the residents of our province for the way in which communities united during this difficult period. Across the Western Cape, neighbours supported neighbours, volunteers stepped forward, and communities showed remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
While significant progress has already been made, mop-up operations continue in parts of the province, particularly in certain East and West Coast regions. The DA supports the Western Cape Government and local municipalities as they remain fully committed to restoring infrastructure, reopening affected routes, and ensuring that support reaches communities as quickly as possible.
Moments like these remind us that good governance is ultimately about people. It is about preparedness, coordination, compassion and the ability to respond when citizens need help most.
This week, the people of the Western Cape showed that we are resilient, united and determined to recover together.