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A flooded area
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has described the loss of life in the devastating floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga as alarming. The death toll in both provinces now stands at 31.
The Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Department has confirmed that another person has died in the severe floods. pic.twitter.com/kp2SWAOMFm
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 17, 2026
The commission has called on the public to heed directives, especially the ones related to evacuation. It says the effects of flooding threaten constitutional rights to life, dignity and access to basic needs.
The Mpumalanga Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Department has given the assurance that those affected will receive humanitarian aid.
The department’s spokesperson Freddy Ngobe earlier confirmed the updated provincial death toll.
[LISTEN] The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in Mpumalanga says it has recorded 19 fatalities related to the heavy rains and flooding since the start of the summer rainfall season in November.
🔗 #UpdateAtNoon #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/svIWa2TDTu
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) January 15, 2026
“We can confirm that since the start of the rain we have had 20 fatalities, one being confirmed on Friday night or Saturday morning. Just over 1200 houses have been affected as well as several infrastructures including farms. It’s quite a huge blow that we are dealing with,” says Ngobe.
WATCH | In Limpopo and Mpumalanga, floods have ripped through schools, roads and properties, turning ordinary days into emergencies. Rescue teams race against time, scrambling to reach communities cut off from roads, power and hope. In Mpumalanga, at least 19 people have died,… pic.twitter.com/eM6sjXEiRO
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 16, 2026
He says all hands are on deck from all stakeholders in government, the province, national, municipalities and the private sector.
“They are on board to ensure that we assist each other to restore the damage,” he adds.
