South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the flood-hit Eastern Cape province on Friday, where at least 78 people have died and many others remain missing after severe weather battered the region earlier this week. The visit comes as authorities face mounting criticism over delays in their emergency response.
Ramaphosa toured Mthatha, one of the hardest-hit towns, and inspected the eFata bridge where a school bus was swept away by rising floodwaters on Tuesday, claiming the lives of several students. The floods followed an extreme weather system that brought torrential rains, strong winds, and even snowfall to parts of the province.
The disaster struck in the early morning hours, catching many residents off guard as floodwaters surged through homes and streets. Search and rescue operations, now in their fourth day, continue as officials warn the death toll could still rise.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane admitted the province’s emergency response was hampered by a lack of resources. “We were paralyzed in the initial hours,” he said, citing the absence of specialized rescue teams and limited equipment, including a single official helicopter, which had to be brought from over 500 kilometers away.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, who has been overseeing the national response, urged citizens to report missing persons to help streamline rescue efforts. “We are in a crisis. A real disaster,” he told state broadcaster SABC, adding that more victims were likely to be found as waters recede.
Residents in Mthatha shared harrowing accounts of the flooding. “I need psychological help,” said Zinathi Vuso, who witnessed people being swept away by floodwaters. “Some tried to hold on to anything they could, but it gave way, and they died. That’s why they are still being recovered.”
The South African government has pledged to provide support to affected communities, but frustrations remain high as locals grapple with loss, destruction, and a slow path to recovery.