The government has declared thesevere flooding and extreme weatheracross several provinces, which has killed 37 people to date, a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa,welcomed the moveinitiated by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) after consultation with provincial disaster centres and the national joint flood coordinating committee. “This follows a comprehensive assessment of adverse weather conditions since late November 2025,” Hlabisa said.
The heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning and flooding affected the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and North West provinces, resulting in loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure, environmental degradation, displacement of communities and disruptions to schooling and agriculture. In Mpumalanga and Limpopo, the flood-related death toll stands at 37. Following oversight visits by President Cyril Ramaphosa and provincial assessments, Hlabisa commended local leaders for a swift, coordinated response and stressed the need to mobilise resources for relief and recovery.
Under Sections 23 and 26 of the Disaster Management Act, the national executive assumes primary responsibility for disaster coordination. Hlabisa called on all government spheres to strengthen disaster support, implement contingency measures, submit progress reports to the NDMC and ensure a coordinated approach to relief and rehabilitation. He also praised first responders, disaster teams, the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, humanitarian organisations such as Gift of the Givers and communities for their support.
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Hlabisa highlighted ongoing challenges, including wildfires in the Western Cape, continued rainfall and foot-and-mouth disease, urging residents to remain vigilant and prioritise safety. Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathubawelcomed the classification of a national disaster, noting that the extent of the damage to infrastructure was becoming visible to all “and access to some areas is slowly opening”. “We need all the assistance we can get to rebuild Limpopo after these devastating floods and the help we need from national departments and agencies would be made possible through this classification,” she said. The City of Ekurhuleniconfirmedthat its MMC for roads and transport management, Andile Mngwevu, was missing in Mozambique after the vehicle he was travelling in was swept away by floodwaters.
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