At least 10 people have died and thousands of homes have been damaged after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across six provinces in South Africa, with informal settlements among the hardest hit as severe winter weather sweeps through parts of the country.
South African authorities have declared a national state of disaster following days of flooding, thunderstorms, strong winds and snowfall that have battered large parts of the country since May 4. The declaration covers the provinces of the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga, allowing the government to release emergency funding and mobilize additional disaster response resources.
Cape Town Among Worst Affected Areas
The city of Cape Town has emerged as one of the areas most severely impacted by the extreme weather, with widespread flooding disrupting communities, transport routes and public services.
Local officials said at least 26 informal settlements around the city were affected, with more than 10,000 structures either damaged or destroyed. Many residents living in low-lying areas were forced to evacuate after floodwaters swept through densely populated neighborhoods built with fragile materials unable to withstand prolonged rainfall.
Authorities in the Western Cape temporarily closed schools in some districts and restricted access to sections of Table Mountain, one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions, because of dangerous weather conditions and safety concerns.
Emergency crews have been working to clear flooded roads, restore electricity in affected communities and provide temporary shelter for displaced families.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences over the deaths caused by the severe weather, describing the loss of life as deeply distressing.
Ramaphosa said government agencies were attempting to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve early warning systems as climate-related weather events become increasingly severe.
Authorities have emphasized that emergency services remain on high alert as forecasters continue to warn of additional heavy rainfall and freezing conditions in some areas.
Informal Settlements Hit Hardest
The flooding has once again exposed the vulnerability of South Africa’s informal settlements, where many residents live in overcrowded conditions with limited drainage infrastructure and inadequate protection from severe weather.
In several communities, floodwaters submerged homes and washed away belongings, leaving families stranded and dependent on emergency assistance. Humanitarian organizations and local authorities have warned that prolonged displacement and infrastructure damage could worsen living conditions for already vulnerable populations.
South Africa has long struggled with housing shortages and growing urban poverty, particularly around major cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg, where informal settlements continue to expand.
Extreme Weather Across Southern Africa
Meteorologists and climate experts say severe flooding events have become more frequent and more intense across Southern Africa in recent years, driven by changing climate patterns and increasingly volatile weather systems.
Countries including South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have all experienced unusually heavy rainfall in recent months, resulting in some of the region’s worst flooding in years.
Scientists have warned that warming ocean temperatures and shifting atmospheric conditions are contributing to more destructive storms, raising concerns about future disaster preparedness across the region.
Repeated Flood Disasters
The latest flooding comes only months after South Africa declared another national disaster earlier this year following torrential rains that killed at least 30 people in northern parts of the country.
That earlier disaster destroyed thousands of homes and severely damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure, highlighting the growing financial and humanitarian costs associated with recurring climate-related emergencies.
Officials say recovery efforts from previous floods were still ongoing in some regions when the latest storms struck.
Emergency Response Underway
Government disaster management teams, local municipalities and humanitarian agencies are continuing rescue and relief operations in affected provinces. Authorities are also assessing the full scale of the damage, with fears that the death toll could rise as more areas become accessible.
Residents in flood-prone zones have been urged to remain alert and follow evacuation orders where necessary, while weather officials continue monitoring conditions as winter intensifies across southern Africa.
