By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster following torrential rains and floods that have killed at least 30 people in the country’s north, damaged thousands of homes and washed off roads and other infrastructure.
Under the declaration made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and announced by authorities, the national government is expected to coordinate the response to the disaster.
The worst hit in the flooding is in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where the deaths occurred.
The Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said at least three other provinces had also been affected by the severe weather.
Parts of South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe have experienced heavy rains for weeks. It has resulted in severe flooding in central and southern Mozambique and northern South Africa. An AP report says over 100 people have died in the three countries since the rains began late last year.
Arising from the floods in northern South Africa, authorities have closed the Kruger National Park and evacuated hundreds of tourists and staff members from flooded camps to other parts of the park.
The premier of Limpopo province said the weather had caused about $240 million in damage in her province, with many houses and buildings washed away completely.
No fewer than 100 people lost their lives last year in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province in the south of the country due to severe flooding, while more than 400 died in flooding in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province in 2022.
Rescue teams in South Africa have continued with the search for four people, including 5- year-old Siyanda Baloyi believed to have been swept away when his home in Limpopo province was flooded last Thursday.
Authorities also said Sunday that a government official in South Africa’s Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, was missing after a vehicle he was traveling in was swept away by floods in Mozambique.
Andile Mngwevu and other occupants who were in the vehicle are still missing.
