While authorities initially reported no casualties in response to the most recent wave of heavy rains, subsequent reports confirm that two people have died in the Eastern Cape following severe storms, strong winds, and flooding that swept through the district. The latest rainfall has caused significant disruption, with an automatic weather station in Libode recording almost 34 millimetres of rain in less than 20 minutes. In Port St Johns, 46.2 millimetres of rain fell on Monday, with the majority occurring between 4 p.m. and midnight.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had issued warnings of localised flooding for roads, bridges, and both formal and informal settlements. These warnings also highlighted the risk of disruptions to power supplies, communications, and traffic. In Mqanduli, within the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, the Ngwevana Bridge overflowed, forcing traffic officials to close nearby roads. Residents in Nyandeni, specifically in communities around Ngqeleni and Buntingville, were urged to stay away from rivers as low-lying areas flooded. In Port St Johns, areas including Green Farms and Luxolweni Hall were affected, with municipal officials opening trenches to redirect water downstream.
OR Tambo District Municipality Executive Mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana confirmed that disaster teams are spread across the district to identify areas where livelihoods have become impossible. “Our disaster teams are spread across the district to identify those areas and pick up if there are any households where livelihood has become impossible. We will be having a fuller and better report towards the end of the day,” Ngqondwana stated. The municipality added that the assessment process is ongoing, and a comprehensive update on the extent of damage and necessary interventions will be provided once information is consolidated.
This latest incident strikes a region still grappling with the aftermath of the devastating floods from March 2023. That previous disaster, which occurred on 23 March, resulted in at least three deaths and left one person missing. According to a statement from the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the 2023 floods endangered communities in the Mnquma, Mbashe, King Sabatha Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Port St Johns, Ingquza, and Mbizana municipal areas. Homes, businesses, and public infrastructure were damaged, with Port St Johns being the worst affected. At the time, Acting Executive Mayor Councillor Thokozile Sokanyile reported that ten bridges in Port St Johns had been washed away, severely limiting community access to schools and nearby facilities.
The recurrence of such severe weather in the OR Tambo District highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the region’s infrastructure. Many displaced residents from the 2023 disaster are reportedly still waiting for permanent housing and infrastructure repairs, making them particularly susceptible to new weather events. The current situation underscores the need for continued monitoring and rapid response capabilities as the district works to recover from successive climate-related shocks. Disaster management teams remain on the ground, prioritizing the safety of residents and the stabilization of essential services across the affected local municipalities.
