National rescuers join search for missing victims in flood-ravaged Limpopo

Additional rescuers from the National Disaster Management Centre have arrived in Limpopo to bolster search and recovery efforts for five missing flood victims. 

This deployment follows a period of inclement weather that has battered both Limpopo and Mpumalanga, prompting a national disaster classification by the government.

Limpopo has been hit by relentless rains that have claimed at least 19 lives to date. The infrastructure damage across the province is extensive, including:

Submerged roads and cut-off transport routes.

Collapsed bridges hindering access to rural areas.

Severely impacted schools and public facilities.

Provincial MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Basikopo Makamu, has welcomed the additional "boots on the ground" to assist local teams.

MEC Makamu emphasised that all spheres of government are currently coordinating efforts to assess the total scale of the flood damage and ensure immediate assistance reaches those in need.

"The Provincial Disaster Management Centre and other stakeholders are working around the clock to recover the missing and provide relief to affected communities," said Makamu.

The MEC also acknowledged the vital support provided by humanitarian organisations and called on the public and donors to continue assisting flood-affected residents across the province as recovery efforts continue.