South Africa is reeling from one of its most devastating natural disasters in recent history. The death toll from the floods that battered the Eastern Cape Province has risen to at least 67, following several days of intense rain, strong winds, and bitter winter cold.
The storm hit on Monday, primarily affecting the rural and economically strained Eastern Cape region. One of the hardest-hit areas is around Mthatha, about 800 kilometers south of Johannesburg. Homes were submerged when rivers overflowed, and flimsy structures were swept away. Residents are now returning to sift through the mud and rubble to salvage what’s left of their belongings.
On Thursday, rescue teams continued recovery efforts, pulling out several bodies, including children, from a single-room house. Caroline Gallant, who leads the Eastern Cape division of the South African Red Cross, described the situation as the “worst ever disaster” recorded in the area. Over 3,000 homes have been affected so far.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed the updated death count, which includes six schoolchildren swept away in a van during the floods. Four more children remain missing. Two additional students were confirmed dead after being caught in the storm while walking to school, according to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. “We are reeling,” she said in a national broadcast.
The storm has not only taken lives but also damaged key infrastructure. Power and water supplies were disrupted, and over 20 health facilities were impacted. Hundreds of people have been forced from their homes, with at least 600 now living in temporary shelters like community halls.
President Cyril Ramaphosa labeled the floods “unprecedented” and announced plans to visit the disaster-stricken areas. Rescuers on the ground continue door-to-door searches, with some reporting that people had been found deceased inside locked homes.
Humanitarian groups are also scaling up their efforts. The Gift of the Givers Foundation, which has deployed emergency teams, reports that the number of people in need has doubled in just 24 hours, from 5,000 to 10,000. Many homes are unstable, and food sources have been contaminated, making evacuation a priority.
Authorities are urging South Africans to remain alert as more extreme weather is expected in the coming days. The Eastern Cape, where Nelson Mandela was born, remains one of the country’s poorest provinces, with 72% of its population living below the poverty line.
Winter storms with snow and heavy rainfall are not unusual in South Africa. However, experts, including the Green Climate Fund, warn that the country’s vulnerability to climate change is intensifying, with floods, droughts, and wildfires becoming more frequent and severe.
Minister Hlabisa stressed the urgent need for action: “We must take a tough stance that everyone who is living on a flood plain must be removed. Climate change is a reality now.”
By Yockshard Enyendi