South Africa
Severe weather claims ten lives in several provinces─── ZENANDE MPAME 13:27 Tue, 12 May 2026
The national disaster management centre has said at least ten people have died as severe weather continues to batter several provinces.
The government said disaster response efforts would continue around the clock after severe weather had forced the declaration of a national disaster. Authorities warned further disruptions were expected as recovery operations intensified in areas hardest hit by the extreme conditions.
Government officially classified the situation as a national disaster following widespread flooding, storms, damaging winds, and snowfall affecting the Northern Cape, Free State, North West, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga.
Emergency teams across several provinces remained on high alert as severe weather conditions continued to threaten communities already affected by deadly flooding, damaging winds, and snowfall.
“Authorities have managed to reduce the potential loss of life through proactive disaster interventions and evacuations,” said national disaster management centre acting head Thabo Khupari.
“We’re sitting at ten fatalities across all the provinces. One life is too much; one can say we managed to be proactive and save lives by evacuating those who were at risk.
“This classification formally confirmed the disaster and enables the government to redirect resources for relief efforts and infrastructure repairs.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sadness over the loss of life linked to the severe weather events affecting several provinces. He said his thoughts were with the families, friends, and colleagues of those who died in incidents due to harsh weather.
Ramaphosa assured the nation all spheres of government would continue working together to respond to the disaster and support affected communities. He praised rescue and recovery teams operating under difficult conditions, noting severe weather continued to affect rescue and recovery operations, including limiting air operations.
“National, provincial, and municipal authorities will work with communities to address the effects of the disaster,” said presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. “The disaster centre and cabinet will be updated on critical forecasts, and disastrous impacts and responses will be modified as conditions dictate.”
“As winter sets in, we are vulnerable to events which we may be able to forecast but whose actual intensity in specific locations we may not be able to predict.
“We are, however, making the best use of science to pre-empt some of these events and to respond to the aftermath.”
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