A national disaster has been following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding across parts of the country. This has resulted in over 30 deaths and the destruction of thousands of homes across the affected provinces.

Heavy rainfall led to loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure, and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services, across several provinces, including North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape. The minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has welcomed the classification of a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002.

The classification was effected by Dr Elias Sithole, head of the national disaster management centre (NDMC), after consultations with relevant state organs and the heads of provincial disaster management centres. This followed an assessment of adverse weather conditions experienced since late November 2025.

“I hereby call upon organs of state across the three spheres of government to further strengthen their support to the disaster management structures,” said Sithole. “I further urge them to implement their contingency arrangements and to ensure that measures are put in place to effectively deal with the effects of this disaster.”

The organs of state are also urged to submit progress reports to the NDMC and ensure a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to prevention, mitigation, relief, and rehabilitation, he said.

Effects of the flood in parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Photo: Facebook/SABC News

Recent oversight visits by President Cyril Ramaphosa to Limpopo and Minister Hlabisa to Mpumalanga underscored the scale of the devastation and reinforced the need for continued national support.

The government has reiterated its commitment to working alongside humanitarian organisations, security services, and local communities to restore normality and rebuild livelihoods.

The South African Weather Service issued a yellow level 2 warning for Limpopo and Mpumalanga for Monday (19/1). Forecasters predict severe thunderstorms with localised flooding, large amounts of small hail, and localised damage to infrastructure due to damaging winds are expected over the south-western parts of Limpopo.

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