Limpopo Premier rallies support for flood recovery in Mopani District

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting flood-affected communities, as more than 120 households in Mphakane and Zaba villages in the Mopani District continue to recover from recent floods that displaced families and destroyed homes.

Speaking during the handover of food parcels and a corporate social investment (CSI) programme in Mphakane Village, Ramathuba said the intervention formed part of a broader response to the severe flooding that followed weeks of heavy rainfall across the province.

The floods, which led to Limpopo being declared a national disaster area, left a trail of destruction across several districts. Homes were washed away, roads and bridges collapsed, and access to basic services was disrupted. Many families were forced to seek temporary shelter in schools and churches, while schooling and livelihoods were interrupted.

“We are gathered here under difficult but hopeful circumstances. Difficult because families have lost so much, but hopeful because today shows what is possible when government, business and communities stand together,” Ramathuba said. 

In Mphakane and neighbouring Zaba Village, more than 120 households were affected, with some homes completely destroyed. Ramathuba said the impact of the floods extended beyond physical damage, shaking families’ sense of safety and stability.

She commended municipalities and disaster management teams for their rapid response during the crisis, noting that early interventions helped ensure that vulnerable households received food and other essential necessities.

The relief effort was strengthened through a partnership between the City of Polokwane and Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, which redirected its CSI programme to support flood-hit communities. Executives from the club, including Bobby Motaung and Kemiso Motaung, were present at the handover.

Under normal circumstances, the CSI programme forms part of the build-up activities around matches hosted at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. However, following the floods, the initiative was repurposed to provide humanitarian relief.

“This programme is about more than food parcels. It is about restoring dignity, offering hope and reminding our people that they are not alone,” Ramathuba said.

She said the partnership reflects the province’s broader vision of positioning Limpopo, and Polokwane in particular, as a sporting destination while also using sport as a vehicle for social change and community upliftment.

“For a club of Kaizer Chiefs’ stature, this shows leadership beyond the pitch. Today, they are not only supporting communities in need, but they are winning hearts," she said.

While immediate relief remains critical, the government is also facing the enormous task of rebuilding damaged infrastructure.

Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Rachoene, said that recent floods and persistent heavy rains have severely affected road conditions across the province, disrupting scheduled maintenance, such as pothole patching, re-gravelling, and blading. The conditions have also increased the risk of road surface deterioration and created hazardous driving conditions.

Following preliminary assessments, the department estimates that more than R1.7 billion will be required to rebuild damaged road infrastructure. Rachoene cautioned that the figure remains provisional, as assessments are still ongoing in some areas.

While awaiting additional support from the national government, Rachoene said his department has been instructed to reprioritise its budget to enable immediate interventions in critical areas. This approach, he said, would ensure that any national assistance strengthens, rather than replaces, provincial efforts.

“In the meantime, our departmental cost centres, which are immediate service delivery respondents, have been reconnecting affected communities through the #Dikgerekgere service delivery initiative programme. These interventions are already yielding positive results in areas such as Tswinga in Vhembe District, and others in Sekhukhune and Mopani Districts, where connectivity has been temporarily restored by in-house teams as an interim measure,” he said.

Ramathuba said rebuilding roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure remains a priority, as connectivity is essential for economic activity and access to services.

“The work will continue until we are confident that roads are safe and accessible,” she said.

She also called on the broader business community to partner with the government in rebuilding the province.

“Our doors remain open to those who are willing to help us restore lives and livelihoods. If we maintain this spirit of cooperation, we will not only rebuild infrastructure, but also restore hope, resilience and normalcy,” Ramathuba said. 

karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za