On Friday, January 16, the agency released a statement outlining their plans to intervene. The organisation is working closely with the provincial disaster management and joint operation centre committees in Limpopo and Mpumalanga to provide urgent relief to flood victims.

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The agency has deployed officials to provide support to distressed families in the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga and parts of Limpopo.

Through its Social Relief of Distress programme, Sassa will provide displaced families with daily hot meals, cash vouchers, blankets, mattresses and school uniforms once assessments are completed.

After an assessment by the Department of Social Development, food parcels were provided to 16 families by the Red Cross.

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Sassa CEO Themba Matlou said the agency is mandated to provide social assistance to affected families. “We are working actively and closely with disaster management and local authorities to provide urgent emergency intervention to families who have been affected by these devastating floods. We also convey our deepest sympathy and condolences to families who lost loved ones because of this tragedy,” he said.