Preliminary reports indicate that 1 942 homes in Limpopo and 1 808 homes in Mpumalanga have been affected by the deadly floods that ravaged the two provinces last week, with rains expected to continue until this weekend. The death toll from the floods in Limpopo has increased from 17 to 18 on Wednesday morning, with at least six other people still missing. In Mpumalanga, the fatalities stand at 20, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Simelane said she has already dispatched the Emergency Housing Unit to the disaster-hit areas in the two provinces; however, their work has been met with difficulty, especially in Limpopo, as heavy rains have continued. “While the verification process, the process that involves determining the extent of the damage and informs us what the appropriate emergency housing interventions are, is continuing, we have decided to proceed with assisting households that have been verified,” she said. “We are happy to report that we are at an advanced stage of starting to help the affected households as we have started procuring temporary emergency accommodation (TEA) for people who are currently housed in mass care centres or evacuation centres, and we are also in the process of acquiring Temporary Residential Units for over 100 people,” Simelane said She said more housing assistance will be provided once the verification process is complete.
Simelane said the loss of life and homes is a tragedy that emphasises the need for people to build homes with strong materials and away from flood-prone areas. “The continued existence of mud houses, particularly in rural provinces, remains a critical concern. These structures are often highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rains and flooding, posing serious risks to the safety and well-being of the occupants,” she said.
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