outh Africa is still assessing the full extent of infrastructure damage caused by flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces that has killed at least 38 people over the past two weeks, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday.
The death toll from recent heavy rains and flooding has risen to 38, with 20 fatalities recorded in Mpumalanga and 18 in Limpopo, according to Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane. Six people remain missing in Limpopo.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Basic Education conference in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said government entities were coordinating recovery efforts through an inter-ministerial committee and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints).
"The government system now, through the inter-ministerial committee and Natjoints, is now coming into gear to see what the damage is and what needs to be done on a unified basis," Ramaphosa said.
The National Disaster Management Centre declared the flooding a national disaster on Sunday, allowing the government to mobilise additional resources and coordinate response efforts across all three spheres of government.
A total of 1,942 houses have been damaged in Limpopo and 1,808 in Mpumalanga, according to the latest government figures. Limpopo officials estimate damage in the province at roughly 4 billion rand ($220 million), with homes, bridges and public buildings washed away.
Ramaphosa visited flood-hit areas in both provinces last week, noting that roads had been destroyed, schools closed and critical infrastructure damaged.
"The roads are destroyed. Children cannot go to school, and houses have been washed away, and valuable infrastructure has been damaged," he said during an earlier visit to Mpumalanga.
The Department of Human Settlements has begun procuring temporary emergency accommodation for displaced residents currently housed in mass care centres. Procurement is under way for emergency housing units in several affected areas including Bushbuckridge and Makhado.
The severe weather forced the temporary closure of Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest wildlife reserves, and prompted the evacuation of more than 600 tourists and staff. The park reopened for day visits on Monday, though its northern section remains closed due to damaged roads and bridges.
Ramaphosa said the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters required the government to strengthen its response capabilities and called for improved town planning to prevent settlements in flood-prone areas.
The South African National Defence Force has deployed rescue teams and helicopters to evacuate stranded residents and assist in search operations.
