Torrential rains lashing large swathes of South Africa have claimed the lives of five people in Limpopo, with more disruptive rainfall forecast for the coming week. The downpours, which have caused widespread flooding and disruption, have also contributed to a series of deadly road accidents, leaving a trail of devastation across the country.
In Limpopo, three people drowned in separate incidents in the Phalala River on New Year's Day, according to Waterberg Mayor Jack Maeko. He explained that an adult fishing and two minors swimming were all victims of the rising waters.
While police divers have recovered two bodies, the search continues for the missing child, hampered by persistent rain and swollen river levels. Adding to the tragedy, two more teenagers, both 16 years old, drowned while playing in the Levuvhu River in Xikundu. Their bodies were later recovered.
The relentless rainfall has prompted the South African Weather Service (Saws) to issue a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms, more rain, hail, and damaging winds across Limpopo, as well as the escarpment and Lowveld regions of Mpumalanga. An Orange Level 5 warning for disruptive rain has also been issued for Zululand and Mkhanyakude districts in KwaZulu-Natal for Tuesday. Disruptive rainfall is also anticipated in northern KwaZulu-Natal and the Highveld of Mpumalanga.
The heavy rains have exacerbated already dangerous driving conditions, leading to several fatal accidents. The most devastating incident occurred on the N3 at Van Reenen's Pass, where an eighteen-person multi-vehicle pile-up claimed eighteen lives on Monday night. The provincial Department of Transport confirmed that a search is underway for the truck driver who allegedly fled the scene, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. A major crash on the N3 the previous day resulted in the road's closure for several hours, causing significant traffic delays.
KwaZulu-Natal has also been severely impacted by the heavy rains, with the provincial Department of Transport reporting a significant increase in road accidents. MEC Siboniso Duma stated: "Since [Sunday] night, we have noticed an increase in road accidents along the N3, N2 and other routes as a result of heavy rainfall."
Several roads have been flooded, including the bridge between Lincoln Meade and Bishopstowe, sections of the N3, and a bridge in Umbilo. In one incident, KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga was involved in a minor accident when a speeding vehicle crashed into her motorcade while she was stuck in traffic due to the wet conditions. Fortunately, the MEC was unharmed.
The severe weather has also caused widespread power outages. Eskom reported outages in several areas, including Cato Ridge, Empangeni, Hluhluwe, Nkandla, Nquthu, Stanger, Ulundi, Vryheid, and Wartburg. While technical teams are working to restore power, the high number of outages means repairs may take longer than usual.
Disaster management teams and municipalities across the affected provinces are on high alert, responding to localised flooding and providing assistance to affected communities. In KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Transport is working with municipalities to monitor traffic flow and ensure road safety.
The department is also providing assistance to families whose homes were destroyed by the floods, with plans to procure temporary housing units and building materials. Msunduzi and eThekwini Municipalities have also activated their disaster management teams and are urging residents in flood-prone areas to take necessary precautions. With more heavy rain forecast for the coming days, authorities are urging motorists to exercise extreme caution and heed all weather warnings.
