Devastating floods declared a national disaster

The South African government has officially declared the recent floods and extreme weather conditions affecting several provinces, including Limpopo, a national disaster.

The classification was issued by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) on the evening of 17 January 2026, following an assessment of the scale and severity of the damage.

Since late December 2025, Limpopo has recorded about 17 deaths, with Mopani and Vhembe districts among the hardest hit.

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The floods have caused widespread destruction to homes, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure, disrupted basic services, and damaged the environment.

The NDMC cited heavy rainfall, flooding, strong and damaging winds, and lightning across Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and North West provinces as reasons for the declaration, made in terms of Section 23(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act.

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Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba welcomed the classification, saying it comes at a crucial time as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer.

She said the declaration will allow the province to access much-needed national support to rebuild affected communities.

The provincial government is currently assessing and costing damages and compiling reports to submit to the NDMC. The national disaster status is expected to enable a faster, coordinated response across all spheres of government to support recovery efforts.