Limpopo says 27 deaths recorded from recent floods

Limpopo government says it has recorded 27 flood deaths. The deaths were recorded during flooding across the province.

Furthermore, the search for a five-year-old boy who was swept by flood waters at Mbaula outside Giyani and the two bakkie occupants at Tswinga village near Thohoyandou are continuing.

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba says they’re prioritizing safety and relief at the affected communities.

“The recent adverse weather conditions have resulted in substantial implication for planned public events. Our government, in collaboration with the disaster management team and relevant stakeholders, is actively assessing and responding to the need of affected communities. Our primary focus remains the safety and wellbeing of our residents, which involves ongoing damage assessment, relief intervention and also urgent restoration of essential services,” she says.

Meanwhile, the body of a 14-year old boy who drowned in a water-filled excavation dug by illegal miners has been retrieved at Burgersdorp outside Tzaneen in Limpopo.

The boy was swimming with his friends when he drowned on Wednesday.

Police Spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba says the divers retrieved the body at a depth of five metres.

“Police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, conveyed her condolences to the bereaved family and cautioned communities, especially parents and guardians, to discourage children from swimming in any unauthorised water bodies, including abandoned or illegal mining excavations.”