Mpumalanga
Two crocodiles were spotted near Mkhuhlu in Mpumalanga.
Local reports suggest the crocs were led to the area, by floods.
More wildlife sightings could be a regular occurrence, with meteorologists warning against significant amounts of rainfall into Thursday, at Orange Level 9, over Mpumalanga Lowveld and escarpment (Ehlanzeni District Municipality) as well as Limpopo (mainly Vhembe and Mopani Districts).
Flooding is also in eSwatini, Central Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Thus far, Graskop has received 113 mm of rain, Bushbuckridge 66 mm, Komatidraai 76 mm, Skukuza – 38 mm and Hazyview Airfield – 37 mm.
Tshanowa Primary School in Limpopo received 82 mm, Tzaneen Westfalia Estate – 63 mm, Punda Maria – 51 mm, Kruger Shangoni – 37 mm and Malonga AWS – 22 mm.
Annette Botha, meteorologist at Vox Weather, said of great concern, is how a weather forecast model, is showing extreme rainfall over several days.
“In places more than 400 mm in just 72 hours and over 700 mm in 6 days” she said.
Dr Angelo Hoorn, of the Severe Weather and Information Centre (swaicsa) also had a similar warning.
He wrote “the afternoon satellite imagery shows dense clouds over north-eastern South Africa, where moderate to heavy rainfall is persisting and is expected to continue through to Sunday.”
Marie Helm, the DA’s Constituency Head in the Oliphants Constituency, said “we urge visitors to our area that plan to travel back home, to please leave as soon as possible and to make sure that the roads are safe before leaving. Please contact your local farm watch groups for updated information on road conditions. Those tourists that planned to visit these areas in the coming week, should consider changing plans as heavy rains are expected until Sunday 18 January 2025.”
The Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit is closed.
Limpopo
Heavy rains have led to a disruption in health services.
The hardest-hit districts are Mopani and Vhembe, where there is damaged infrastructure, and restricted access to several healthcare facilities.
The Provincial Department of Health said the ability of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), is unable to respond to emergencies in some villages.
Inaccessible facilities due to erosion, flooding, and damaged road infrastructure are Tswinga, De Hoop, Duvhuledza, and Tshipise clinics.
Roads leading to these facilities have been severely eroded, and several bridges in surrounding villages, washed away.
Picture: Social media