South African President Visits Flood-Hit Region as Death Toll Rises

Tone & Political Bias: Center-leaning

Why: Reporting focuses on facts and government response without assigning partisan blame or praise.

Death Toll Reaches 78, With More Expected

At least 78 people have died following severe flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Search and rescue operations are now in their fourth day, and authorities believe the number of deaths will increase as more bodies are recovered.

The flooding began in the early hours of Tuesday after an intense weather system swept through the region, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow to some areas. Many of the victims were caught off guard and swept away along with parts of their homes.

Ramaphosa to Visit Flood Sites

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit the worst-affected areas on Friday. His itinerary includes Mthatha, a town in Eastern Cape province that has experienced significant loss and damage.

The President’s visit comes amid public concern over the government’s response to the disaster. Rescue and relief efforts were reportedly delayed due to a lack of resources and infrastructure in one of South Africa’s poorest regions.

Slow Emergency Response Draws Criticism

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane acknowledged that the province’s emergency services were unprepared for the scale of the disaster. He said the initial rescue effort was “paralyzed” because of limited access to equipment and personnel. The province of 7.2 million people has only one official rescue helicopter, which had to be flown in from over 500 kilometers away.

Specialized teams like divers and K-9 units were also unavailable in the early hours of the emergency, complicating efforts to find and rescue missing persons.

Children Among the Dead

Many of the dead include children. Authorities continue to search for missing people in floodwaters and damaged buildings. Residents have described scenes of horror and helplessness. Zinathi Vuso, a resident of Mthatha, said, “I need psychological help because I saw people dying in front of me. They were being dragged by the water along with the corrugated iron.”

According to Vuso, many people tried to cling to whatever they could, but the debris would collapse or wash away, leading to more deaths.

Government Urges Public to Report Missing Persons

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, who has been in the province since earlier this week, said on national television that authorities are still trying to determine the number of people unaccounted for.

“We are in a crisis. A real disaster,” Hlabisa told SABC. “The more water subsides, the more people will be found.” He urged residents to report any missing persons to help guide search and rescue teams.

Weather Warnings Were Issued

Meteorologists had warned of the extreme weather before it hit. However, the preparedness and communication systems in place appear to have been insufficient, especially for informal or rural communities that may not have received or understood the alerts.

The disaster has underscored the vulnerability of infrastructure and emergency services in poorer provinces, sparking renewed debate about resource distribution and disaster readiness across South Africa.