Floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, were classified a national disaster, following damaging rains since November 2025.
Dr Elias Sithole, the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), did the classification on Saturday evening 17 January 2026.
Sithole said adverse weather conditions in both provinces, go as far back as late November 2025.
Sithole said this was done after “assessing the magnitude and severity of the severe weather that resulted in lighting, strong and damaging surface winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding, from late December 2025, in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and North West provinces, that resulted in the loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services.”
President Ramaphosa visited flood stricken areas in Limpopo on 15 January 2026, and Velinkosi Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) was in Mpumalanga on Saturday, the 17 January 2026.
Dr Poppy Ramathuba, Premier of Limpopo said about the classification “this classification has come at the right time when the extent of the damage to our infrastructure is becoming visible to all, access to some areas slowly opening. We need all the assistance we can get to rebuild Limpopo after this devastating floods, the help we need from national departments and agencies would be made possible through this classification.”
The classification is an enabler for organs of state to implement contingency arrangements and to ensure that measures are in place to enable the National Executive to effectively deal with the effects of the disaster.
Since December 2025, Limpopo has reported 11 people killed in the floods.
Mpumalanga recorded 20 fatalities.
As of Sunday, the Greater Tzaneen Municipality said all dams in the area are over 100% full, including the Tzaneen Dam 106,93%, Magoebaskloof Dam 103,72%, Ebenezer Dam 102,31%, Merensky Dam 112,85% and Thabina Dam 105,46%.
The rains have led to disruptions in power and water supply.
Residents of Burgersdorp took to the streets in protest on Saturday morning.
Eskom said it successfully completed the replacement of 17 vandalised poles and the restringing of conductors on the Risenga–Burgersdorp 22kV feeder.
As a result, electricity supply was restored to 12 of the 16 affected villages by 22h00 on Saturday evening, including Mulati, Sedani, Zanghoma, Bonn, Mafarana, Vivian, Rita, Mhangweni, Gavaza, Ntsako, Lefara and Xiphungu.
Work continues to restore electricity to the remaining four villages, including Burgersdorp, Madawa, Nyanyukani and Solani.
Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality also announced additional road closures, including the R40 (Grietjie to Mica), where the section of the road was washed away and is closed to all traffic.
The R40 Selati Bridge: This bridge is partially open only for vehicles traveling to Boelang and Grietjie.
Mpumalanga
The Joint River Basin Authorities in Mpumalanga, urged all water users, including farmers, irrigation schemes, water supply operators, and abstraction infrastructure managers, to adhere to River Basin Conditions.
They are to secure pumps, pipelines, and intakes near rivers, protect vulnerable infrastructure, avoid activities in river channels and floodplains and monitor river conditions regularly, especially downstream of dams.
The Association also said areas at risk are:
1. Mkhondvo river from Mahamba, Nkwene, to confluence with the Usuthu at Sidvokodvo, Siphofaneni and Big Bend.
2. Komati river from Maguga dam, Enjakeni to Mananga border with South Africa.
3. Lusushwana river above the Luphohlo dam to Mantenga, ezulwini, Matsapha and confluence with the Usuthu river near Sidvokodvo.
4. Ngwempisi river from Lushikishini, Ngwempisane to Mankayane up to confluence with the Usuthu river at Sidvokodvo.
5. Mbuluzi river from Hawane, Ejubukweni to Mnjoli dam, Simunye and Mlawula.
6. Lomati river above Phophonyane up to confluence with the lomati up to Matsamo.
7. Ngwavuma river from Ngololweni, Mhlosheni, Glenvuma to Lubulini up to the border with South Africa.
Picture: Supplied