Eastern Cape flood victims reportedly occupied land illegally
As images of the devastation spread, many have questioned whether some of the flooded homes were built over flood lines.
A shack surrounded by water after heavy rains fell in Motherwell on 10 June 2025 in Gqeberha, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Die Burger/Lulama Zenzile
As the death toll in the Eastern Cape rises to at least 88 people, officials have reportedly confirmed that some of the areas hardest hit by flooding this week were occupied illegally.
Rescuers claim that around 10 000 people have been displaced, and 3 000 homes damaged or destroyed. At least 1 500 have been relocated to temporary shelters in community halls and other structures. Thursday has been declared an official day of mourning.
As images of the devastation spread, many questioned whether some of the flooded homes were built over flood lines.
According to SABC News, unnamed Mthatha leaders confirmed that flood-hit areas were not occupied legally.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane last week urged those who had built on flood lines to move elsewhere and not return to their homes.
Eastern Cape floods from 'open sluice gate'?
Meanwhile, the Premier's office has rubbished claims that flooding in that area was caused by an open sluice gate at a nearby dam.
A social media user who spread the allegation called for a 'class action [lawsuit] to hold the government to account'.
'Mthatha Dam has no sluice gate to open. Instead, it relies on its uncontrollable spillways to release water once it reaches a certain capacity. This design lets nature take its course safely and efficiently,' said the government, in response.
ALSO READ: Eastern Cape floods: Police vow to 'wake morals' of looters
Ramaphosa blames climate change
President Cyril Ramaphosa blamed climate change during a visit to the affected areas on Friday.
'This is a catastrophic disaster for us, which is caused by climate change because we are not used to floods during winter,' Ramaphosa told the Mthatha community.
'During winter, we expect the cold here in the Eastern Cape, but now we are confronting floods. This goes to show the severity of the issue of climate change.'
NOW READ: Disaster and death in the Eastern Cape: A timeline
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Eastern Cape flood victims reportedly occupied land illegally
As images of the devastation spread, many have questioned whether some of the flooded homes were built over flood lines. A shack surrounded by water after heavy rains fell in Motherwell on 10 June 2025 in Gqeberha, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Die Burger/Lulama Zenzile As the death toll in the Eastern Cape rises to at least 88 people, officials have reportedly confirmed that some of the areas hardest hit by flooding this week were occupied illegally. Rescuers claim that around 10 000 people have been displaced, and 3 000 homes damaged or destroyed. At least 1 500 have been relocated to temporary shelters in community halls and other structures. Thursday has been declared an official day of mourning. As images of the devastation spread, many questioned whether some of the flooded homes were built over flood lines. According to SABC News, unnamed Mthatha leaders confirmed that flood-hit areas were not occupied legally. Premier Oscar Mabuyane last week urged those who had built on flood lines to move elsewhere and not return to their homes. Eastern Cape floods from 'open sluice gate'? Meanwhile, the Premier's office has rubbished claims that flooding in that area was caused by an open sluice gate at a nearby dam. A social media user who spread the allegation called for a 'class action [lawsuit] to hold the government to account'. 'Mthatha Dam has no sluice gate to open. Instead, it relies on its uncontrollable spillways to release water once it reaches a certain capacity. This design lets nature take its course safely and efficiently,' said the government, in response. ALSO READ: Eastern Cape floods: Police vow to 'wake morals' of looters Ramaphosa blames climate change President Cyril Ramaphosa blamed climate change during a visit to the affected areas on Friday. 'This is a catastrophic disaster for us, which is caused by climate change because we are not used to floods during winter,' Ramaphosa told the Mthatha community. 'During winter, we expect the cold here in the Eastern Cape, but now we are confronting floods. This goes to show the severity of the issue of climate change.' NOW READ: Disaster and death in the Eastern Cape: A timeline
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
Cyril Ramaphosa blames climate change for 'catastrophic' Eastern Cape floods
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with survivors of devastating floods that killed at least 78 people in the Eastern Cape, blaming the 'catastrophic disaster' on climate change. Ramaphosa toured the disaster zone and met with survivors in the region, where thousands of houses, roads, schools and health facilities were left caked in mud after being completely submerged in floodwaters, leaving many people with nothing in one of the poorest parts of the country. Rescuers were going door to door searching for bodies or possible survivors, as people got stuck inside their homes when the water rushed in during the night. Some managed to escape to their roofs, where they waited long hours for help. Ramaphosa visited the site where a school bus was swept away, killing at least six children and three adults. Four of the children were still missing. He also spoke with a woman who lost her mother and at least two of her young nephews. The woman was sobbing as the president listened to her story. 'This is a catastrophic disaster which is caused by climate change,' said Ramaphosa, who estimated the flood waters had reached more than four metres (13 feet) high. 'During winter, we expect cold as well as snow here in the Eastern Cape. Now that we are confronting floods, this goes to show the severity of the issue of climate change.' Snow and heavy rainfall are common during winter in South Africa, but coastal parts of the country were hit by 'unprecedented' weather conditions, Ramaphosa said. According to the Green Climate Fund, the country is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate variability and change, which increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather. The death toll from the floods, which officials said stood at 78 on Thursday, could still rise. Earlier on Friday, bodies were still being retrieved from a nearby river. The area worst hit by the floods and subsequent landslides was the city of Mthatha. The city is near the village of Qunu, birthplace of Nelson Mandela, the late anti-apartheid hero and former president. The South African Red Cross Society, which sent aid to the Mthatha area, told AFP at least 3 500 households had been affected, with many people sheltering in community halls. AFP journalists saw a rescue team pull four bodies, some of them children, from a one-roomed house in the late afternoon. The surrounding area was strewn with debris and locals sobbed as they watched the recovery. 'When we came out of the house, the water was above the knee, all the furniture inside was floating,' Sopiseka, a survivor, told AFP. Ali Sablay, a spokesperson for disaster response charity the Gift of the Givers Foundation, said the number of people requiring assistance could increase 'dramatically'. 'The homes are fragile, they can collapse anytime. Food is contaminated, so people need to be evacuated,' said Sablay. At least 20 health facilities and 58 schools were damaged in the Eastern Cape, according to local authorities. Post your condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
Death toll rises to 78 as more bodies found after Eastern Cape floods
South Africa rescue teams recovered more bodies on Thursday, days after heavy rains and strong winds battered the Eastern Cape province, as the death toll rose to at least 78 due to floods. The bitterly cold winter storm struck the largely rural and underdeveloped province on Monday, causing a river to burst its banks and submerge homes, with several make-shift dwellings toppled. The worst-hit area was around the city of Mthatha, about 800km south of Johannesburg, where residents picked through the mud three days later to salvage what they could from their destroyed homes. AFP journalists saw a rescue team pull four bodies, some of them children, from a one-roomed house in the late afternoon as locals watched. Houses, trees and cars were covered in mud and fields were strewn with debris. 'As the water subsides, more bodies are being discovered,' said Caroline Gallant, Eastern Cape manager at the South African Red Cross Society, which has sent assistance to the disaster zone. More than 3,000 houses have been affected, she told AFP , adding it was 'the worst ever disaster' recorded in the area. 'The figure has gone to 78,' Velenkosini Hlabisa, minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, told public broadcaster SABC News . These include six school students who were among 10 in a school van that was swept away in the flooding, he said. Four of the children are still missing, officials said. 'We learnt of an additional two learners today… who have been confirmed as having died on the walk to school,' Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said. 'We are reeling,' she told SABC News . Ali Sablay, a spokesperson for disaster response charity the Gift of the Givers Foundation, said Thursday evening their teams had recovered eight new bodies, including three children. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the Eastern Cape floods 'unprecedented' and said he would visit the disaster-hit region Friday. One rescuer, who spoke to AFP on Thursday on the condition of anonymity as he was not allowed to speak to the media, said his team was expecting to find more bodies and possibly survivors. 'We are going door to door to see, because yesterday we did find people locked inside houses who couldn't get out and were deceased,' he said. The storm damaged power and water supplies and at least 600 people have been displaced, the provincial government said, with many sheltering in community halls. Infrastructure has also been damaged and at least 20 health facilities affected, the local authority said. 'The numbers will increase dramatically,' Sablay said. 'In the last 24 hours the number of people requiring assistance has jumped from 5,000 to 10,000,' he told AFP . 'The homes are fragile, they can collapse any time; food is contaminated so people need to be evacuated,' he added. The government urged South Africans to be vigilant over the next few days as more 'extreme weather' was expected across the country. The province – where Nelson Mandela was born – is among the poorest in the country, with 72 percent of people living below the poverty line, according to the Southern African Regional Poverty Network. Snow and heavy rainfall are common during winter in South Africa but the country is also highly vulnerable to the impact of climate variability and change, which increases the frequency and severity of droughts, floods and wildfires, according to the Green Climate Fund. 'We must take a tough stance that everyone who is living on a flood plain must be removed,' Hlabisa said. 'Climate change is a reality now.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. © Agence France-Presse
