By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Over 5,000 homes were damaged by floods in Limpopo’s Waterberg district, leaving families without shelter and children unable to reach schools.
- Premier Ramathuba warns drivers to avoid R71 road at night.
Heavy rains in Limpopo have destroyed bridges and roads, leaving thousands of families struggling.
In Modimolle’s Ward 12, children can’t get to school after floods destroyed a bridge on Chris Hani Street. Nearby, residents of Phomolong must find new ways to get around after their main road crumbled.
The torrential rain has hit more than 5,000 homes in the Waterberg area. Schools and clinics are also damaged.
One of the province’s busiest roads, the R71 in Magoebaskloof outside Tzaneen, could sink at any time as its soil support walls wash away.
Premier Phophi Ramathuba and Public Works MEC Ernest Chuene visited the R71 to see the damage.
Ramathuba told drivers to stay off the road at night and use the R81 or George’s Valley instead.
The premier wants the national government to declare the flood-hit province a disaster area with the hope that this would unlock much-needed relief aid and funds
“We will do a comprehensive report and send it to the national government – the rain is a state of disaster in our province,” she said.
“As the provincial government, we will also engage our treasury and see if they can assist with a grant, as we wait for the national government to assist us. In the meantime we must fix where we can so that the lives of our people can go on. However, with the roads and bridges it is hard to do any assessments as it is still raining.
“What is urgent now is housing and food; we have already provided temporary shelters to different areas and we are communicating with the department of social services to provide food to the affected households.”
The Olifants, Tambotie, Rietspruit and Mokolo rivers are full to the brim. Ramathuba warned people to keep away from these dangerous waters.
Pictured above: Washed away the low bridge at Modimolle.
Source: Supplied
