President Ramaphosa to assess flood damage in Mpumalanga as Limpopo's death toll increases

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit flood-hit areas in Mpumalanga to assess damage caused by recent heavy rains.

The visit follows the president’s trip last week to Limpopo, where widespread flooding left people dead, displaced families, and caused extensive damage to homes, roads and other critical infrastructure.

On Monday morning, the SABC reported that the death toll in Limpopo had climbed from 17 to 20, with three people still missing after widespread flooding that displaced thousands. 

Parts of both Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been battered by days of persistent rainfall, prompting the South African Weather Service to issue its highest disruptive rainfall warnings. Rivers burst their banks, low-lying bridges were submerged and several communities were cut off, with emergency services conducting search-and-rescue operations in affected areas.

In Limpopo, floods damaged hundreds of homes and forced the closure of schools in some districts, while transport routes were severely affected. In Mpumalanga, communities including Bushbuckridge were impacted, with roads rendered impassable and public facilities damaged.

Schools are among the facilities affected in Mpumalanga.

Matlanatso Lydia Moroane, the mayor of Bushbuckridge Municipality, told Newzroom Afrika that the provincial government would provide guidance on when learners in affected areas would be able to return to school.

She said assessments were still under way to determine the extent of the damage and to ensure the safety of pupils and educators before classes resume.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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