Torrential Rains Submerge Villages and Claims Dozens of Lives

Devastating floods triggered by relentless heavy rains have ravaged Mpumalanga province since early January 2026, submerging villages, destroying homes, and claiming numerous lives alongside neighbouring Limpopo. A powerful low-pressure system originating from Mozambique dumped up to 400mm of rain in days, prompting South Africa's highest Red Level 10 weather warnings and a national disaster declaration to coordinate relief efforts. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Nkomazi Local Municipality on 19 January, surveying damage in areas like Mjejana and Orlando where over 500 homes were wrecked, part of 1,300+ affected province-wide, as emergency teams airlift supplies to isolated communities.

Rivers burst banks, washing away roads, bridges, and schools, while flash floods stranded motorists and cut power in lowveld regions bordering Kruger National Park, where camps like Satara and Lebata flooded after dams overflowed, costing millions in repairs. At least 19 deaths occurred in Mpumalanga alone, contributing to a national toll exceeding 30, with children among victims and thousands displaced amid ongoing disruptive rains of 30–60mm daily into late January. CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa and Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu led assessments, urging residents to avoid low-lying areas as the SA Weather Service downgraded alerts but warned of lingering risks.

Recovery ramps up with SANDF helicopters delivering aid, temporary shelters in Ehlanzeni and Nkangala districts, and a Kruger Relief Fund for infrastructure like the burst Nsemani Dam. Climate experts link the intensity to warmer oceans amplifying tropical moisture, echoing 2000's cross-border catastrophe, while calls grow for better early-warning systems in rural Mpumalanga hotspots like Nkomazi. As skies clear, focus shifts to rebuilding resilient communities against frequent extreme weather in South Africa's rainy season.