Heavy rainfall and flooding has struck part of the Northwest Province of South Africa since Wednesday 5th February, causing several deaths and injuries, damaging roads and bridges, and cutting off rural communities.
The office of the Northwest Premier, Thandi Modise, reported that seven people have drowned in different villages in the Vryburg area of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District due to flooding, and that 97 people have been injured when their mud houses collapsed.
“We wish to convey our condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones in these tragic incidents and also wish the 97 who were injured when their mud houses collapsed across the province a speedy recovery,” the Premier said in a statement.
Elsewhere, over 800 learners at the Kgononyane Secondary School in Southey near Ganyesa, about 80km (50 miles) northwest of Vryburg, were left stranded on Wednesday after floods destroyed all roads leading to the school. The learners are from over 20 villages in the Kagisano-Molopo region.
Four bridges are reported to have been washed away on Friday affecting about 26 villages and cutting off the towns of Bona Bona, Morokweng and Pomfret.
The flooding has affected major roads linking Morokweng, about 160km (100 miles) northwest of Vryburg, to neighbouring areas, making travel in those areas almost impossible, the Premier’s office said, adding that three people had to be rescued from the rooftops of their cars in Morokweng on Thursday after floods left them stranded.
Modise’s spokesperson, Lesiba Kgwele, said the floods had affected over 700 families in the past few days.
“The district disaster management centre is distributing blankets, food parcels and cottage tents and arranging temporary shelter to those who are displaced,” Kgwele said.
The SA Weather Service has forecast a 60% chance of rain over most of the Northwest province during the weekend, with the rain likely to ease from Tuesday.
