A national disaster classification was declared after an oversight visit to Mpumalanga by the minister for co-operative governance and traditional affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa.

The aim of the visit was to assess flood-affected areas and witness first-hand the scale of the damage. Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Limpopo on Thursday, January 15, Hlabisa visited Mpumalanga on Saturday, January 17.

The classification was affected by the head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Dr Elias Sithole. This declaration is in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002), following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding across parts of the country.

Heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning and flooding have resulted in loss of life, significant damage to infrastructure and property, environmental degradation, displacement of communities, disruption to schooling and agricultural activities, and closures to parts of the Kruger National Park. Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KZN, Eastern Cape and North West have all been affected by the extreme weather.

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On Saturday, January 17, Mpumalanga had recorded 20 fatalities. Mpumalanga’s premier, Mandla Ndlovu, said flood damage had said was estimated at around R2b. Although on Wednesday, January 21, the Mpumalanga

Provincial Government Executive Council estimated that repairing and restoring infrastructure would exceed R3.5b. This represents an additional R1.5b on top of the R2b announced on Saturday.

Ndlovu urged residents to avoid waterways, warning that conditions during heavy rainfall can become dangerous without notice.

During the visit to Msholozi, where two residents lost their lives after being swept away by a flooding stream, Hlabisa commended the provincial leadership for its response. He expressed appreciation to first responders, disaster management teams, community members and humanitarian organisations such as Gift of the Givers.

Hlabisa said government would need to reprioritise the budget in order to intervene in the affected communities. The MEC and premier confirmed that a temporary intervention will allow communities and vehicles to cross the bridge where a member of the Morgan family was washed away.

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Plans are already in place to build a permanent bridge that will be safer than the previous structure and will not put the lives of residents at risk.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp, also visited Kruger National Park, where he spent time assessing damage and engaging with various stakeholders, including SANParks leadership.