Ramaphosa Visits Flood-Hit Eastern Cape as Death Toll Rises

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the flood-stricken Eastern Cape on Friday, June 13, 2025.

This is as the death toll from the  devastating floods reached at least 78.

Search and rescue operations entered their fourth day in Mthatha, the hardest-hit area, with authorities warning that more bodies are likely to be recovered.

Ramaphosa attended a briefing by the National Disaster Management Centre and inspected a bridge where a school bus was swept away, killing six students, the driver, and another adult, with four children still missing.

Catastrophic Floods Overwhelm Region

The floods was  triggered by an extreme weather front that brought heavy rain, strong winds, and snow.

It began in the early hours of Tuesday, catching many residents unprepared.

The South African Weather Service had issued warnings about the severe weather last week.

However, the scale of destruction overwhelmed the province’s limited resources.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the initial rescue efforts as “paralyzed” due to a lack of specialized teams, divers, and K-9 units, with only one rescue helicopter available, sourced from over 500 kilometers away.

Tragic Losses and Ongoing Searches

The floods swept away homes, vehicles, and debris, leaving victims trapped or washed away.

Zinathi Vuso, a Mthatha resident, recounted the horror: “I saw people dying in front of me, dragged by water along with corrugated iron. Some tried to hold on, but they ended up dead.”

Bodies have been found up to 2 kilometers from their last known locations, with many children among the deceased.

Rescue teams, supported by groups like Gift of the Givers, are scouring floodwaters and damaged structures for the missing.

Resource Constraints in a Poor Province

The Eastern Cape, one of South Africa’s poorest regions with 7.2 million residents, faces significant challenges in disaster response.

Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa called the situation a “real disaster,” urging residents to report missing persons to aid rescue efforts.

Informal settlements on floodplains near rivers bore the brunt of the damage, exacerbating the tragedy.

The province’s vulnerability to extreme weather, driven by Indian and Southern Ocean systems, echoes the 2022 Durban floods that killed over 400.

Calls for Resilience and Recovery

As floodwaters subside, the focus remains on finding the missing, restoring infrastructure, and supporting displaced communities.

Ramaphosa’s visit underscores national commitment, but questions linger about the adequacy of early warnings and response capabilities.

The government is mobilizing resources to address the crisis, with Hlabisa emphasizing the need for vigilance as the death toll, recently updated to 87 by some sources, continues to rise.

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