The damaged R40 Selati River Bridge outside Phalaborwa, Limpopo. Picture: Supplied. Communities have been cut off, and infrastructure collapsed in several parts of Limpopo, following devastating floods in the province this week.
Torrential rain has fallen for much of the week, leading to widespread flooding of roads and settlements, the displacement of communities, damage to property, and the loss of livelihoods. At least nine people have died, including a five-year-old boy. Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, along with President Cyril Ramaphosa, crisscrossed the province’s hard-hit Vhembe and Mopani districts this week to assess the extent of the damage.
Ramathuba said the rains have been unprecedented in their intensity, reaching up to 400 millimetres in just a few days. The R71 towards Phalaborwa has also been closed due to rain, as has the R40 around the Phalaborwa area. The R524 from Louis Trichardt to Punda Maria Gate (via Thohoyandou) has major portions destroyed.
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The district and local municipalities have reported damaged streets within their localities, which they shall include in the total costing. The premier said the sheer damage to roads was something even a reserve fund in the Provincial Treasury would not be able to handle, making it impossible for the province and affected municipalities to respond. She called for the national government’s intervention.
“As it is about R1.7 billion on roads. We have requested assistance from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to temporarily restore access roads. The Department of Public Works will, in areas where rain has stopped, begin reconnecting bridges, including the requested assistance from the SANDF.”
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