Mental health efforts and community support needed after Mthatha floods, says MEC

Eastern Cape social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta has urged communities to prioritise mental health and collective support in the wake of the Mthatha floods that killed more than 100 people earlier in 2025.

She was speaking on Thursday at the second King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) annual heritage, trauma debriefing and employee wellness event.

The gathering focused on trauma recovery, mental health and support for frontline workers.

Fanta expressed condolences to families who lost relatives in the disaster.

“Today, as we gather to honour our heritage, we are also reminded of the fragility of life and the strength of our communities.

“The recent floods have left a deep scar on our hearts, and it is our collective responsibility to support one another during this difficult time,” she said.

Heritage is not just about celebrating our past; it is also about building a future where we can heal together

Workshops and discussions were held on trauma recovery, employee wellness and coping strategies.

Mental health professionals encouraged participants to seek help and share experiences.

“Heritage is not just about celebrating our past; it is also about building a future where we can heal together.

“Our diverse cultures and traditions provide the foundation for resilience, and we must harness that strength to support each other in times of crisis,” Fanta said.

She said supporting employees, particularly frontline workers, was key to broader community wellbeing.

“When our employees are supported and cared for, they can better serve our communities. We must prioritise mental and emotional wellness to ensure that we can all thrive,” she said.

Sessions were held for teachers, social workers and healthcare professionals, who face particular pressures in the aftermath of the floods.

Community members also shared personal accounts of loss and recovery.

“Every story shared today is a step towards healing. It is vital that we listen to one another and provide support as we navigate these challenging times together,” Fanta said.

Social worker Retshepile Belebesi called for additional resources.

“As social workers we would really appreciate if we could have a psychologist within our office as we deal with traumatic sessions and we would like to be debriefed to continue helping communities to be resilient,” she said.

KSD manager Akhona Siyo said the burden on social service practitioners was increasing.

“It has been apparent that this mammoth responsibility is overwhelming for our social service practitioners and they have since reached a point of saturation as there seems to be a serious need for a debriefing initiative to prepare them for the ongoing sessions that they have to drive as the department,” Siyo said.

He said public and private support would be needed as recovery efforts intensified.

“The 2025 Heritage Day programme is designed to address these challenges through a structured approach to employee wellness and trauma recovery.

“Employee wellness encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives aimed at improving the overall health and wellbeing of employees,” Siyo said.

OR Tambo district chief whip Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo said the programme should continue.

“This initiative will go a long way in ensuring that social workers continue to do their work and help communities,” she said.

Daily Dispatch