MTHATHA, South Africa — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the flood-ravaged Eastern Cape province on Friday, where families are mourning the deaths of at least 78 people following days of torrential rain and landslides.
The president walked through thick mud and the wreckage of collapsed homes in Mthatha, the city at the centre of the disaster. Entire communities were swallowed by floodwaters after a winter storm struck the province late Monday night.
“This is heartbreaking,” Ramaphosa said during his visit. “We’ve lost children, parents, entire families. Government will not leave you to face this alone.”
Among the worst tragedies was the drowning of nine people six of them school children after their bus was swept away by raging water. Ramaphosa laid flowers at the scene and met with grieving relatives.
Homes Washed Away Overnight
Rescue teams were still combing through debris on Thursday, moving door to door in search of bodies or survivors. Many residents were caught off guard, with floodwaters rising rapidly in the dead of night. Some clung to rooftops for hours, hoping help would come.
Ali Sablay of the disaster relief group Gift of the Givers warned the situation could still worsen. “The number of people needing help could rise dramatically,” he said. “Homes are unstable, food is spoiled. Evacuations are urgent.”
The South African Red Cross reported that more than 3,500 households were affected. Many survivors are now sheltering in overcrowded community halls, where clean water and food are in short supply.
The province’s department of education confirmed damage to at least 58 schools, while 20 health facilities were also affected, disrupting access to care.
A Region on the Edge
The Eastern Cape is one of South Africa’s poorest and least developed regions. Flood-prone and often overlooked, it lacks the infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.
Winter storms with rain and snow are not uncommon in the area. But this week’s deluge was different. “These floods are unlike anything we’ve seen here before,” said Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, who confirmed the rising death toll in a Thursday interview with public broadcaster.
Climate experts have long warned that South Africa is particularly vulnerable to erratic and extreme weather patterns. The Green Climate Fund lists the country among those most exposed to the risks of climate change risks that are now playing out with deadly force.
Next Steps
Ramaphosa said emergency funds would be made available, and that ministers from health, education, and housing departments would remain in the province to coordinate the response.
But for many, the concern is not just immediate relief. “We can’t just rebuild what was lost,” said Sablay. “We need to rethink how these communities are protected in the first place.”
As helicopters circled overhead and aid trucks rolled in, the people of Eastern Cape faced a grim recovery. Dozens are still missing. Thousands have lost everything.
And winter is far from over.
