Government has, in terms of the Disaster Management Act of 2002, declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, coordinated response to the impact of floods that are affecting Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, the Northern Cape, and North West. In a media statement on Monday, February 13, the office of the president said that the national disaster management centre had received reports ranging from flooded homes, vehicles swept away by floodwaters and overflowing dams and sewerage facilities, to the loss of basic infrastructure and damage to roads, bridges, and a Limpopo hospital.

“In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses, and anticipate further losses as the South African Weather Service predicts that recent heavy rains will persist. These conditions have been brought on by the La Niña global weather phenomenon which occurs in the Pacific Ocean but impacts a country like South Africa with above-normal rainfall,” said Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for the president.

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The Mopani District Municipality (MDM) also has urged residents to remain vigilant in the midst of the persistent heavy rainfall. Odas Ngobeni, the spokesperson of MDM, said that dams started to overflow on Sunday and rivers are in flood. Pule Shayi, MDM executive mayor, expressed his sadness at the reported drowning of a Grade 10 learner on Sunday from Mamokgadi village in the Greater Letaba Municipality. “We welcome the rain but are extremely sad about the drowning incident at Mamokgadi.

We know that the specialised teams led by the police are currently at the scene, and we wish them well on this search and rescue operation,” he said on Monday. Ngobeni said MDM’s disaster management teams are on high alert. “Parents are advised to monitor the whereabouts of children and not to allow them to swim in rivers or streams. With the soil already heavily saturated, flash flooding can occur rapidly with little chance of survival for anyone caught in the flow.

“We also wish to advise motorists to drive with caution, reduce speed and increase their following distance,” he concluded. Emergencies can be reported to the Mopani centralised communication centre (CCC) on 015 306 7000, 060 551 1911, or 060 551 1910.