From 25–26 January 2026, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) team, accompanied by South African officials, conducted a mission to assess the impacts of recent floods and the humanitarian priorities of affected communities in Limpopo Province. The objective was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the flood situation, its consequences, and the immediate needs of the population.
Preliminary reports from the South African government indicated that, as of 24 January 2026, at least 41 people had died due to flood-related incidents, including river crossings, flooding, and infrastructure collapses, while over 3,800 households were affected across Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces.
The SADC mission, led by Mr. Antonio J. Beleza, Programme Officer for Monitoring and Early Warning at the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), arrived in Limpopo on 23 January 2026. Following South Africa’s declaration of a State of National Disaster on 18 January 2026, SADC activated its regional disaster response mechanisms to support government-led relief efforts. The mission aimed to evaluate the humanitarian situation, existing response capacities, and priority needs to guide targeted regional support.
During visits to Vhembe District, the SADC team observed ongoing rescue efforts, including operations to recover a car that had drowned in the overflowing Dzindi River in Tswinga Village, and inspected areas where homes were damaged by heavy rains. On 26 January, the team toured Mbaula in Mopani District with Mr. Shivasa Richard Nkuna, Head of the District Disaster Management Centre, witnessing destroyed bridges, damaged houses, and evacuation centers, providing insight into the urgent humanitarian needs.
Data from Mopani District, which includes Greater Tzaneen, Greater Giyani, Phalaborwa, Letaba, and Maruleng, reported that 1,606 households were affected, five people died, and one remained missing. Infrastructure damage included 42 bridges and 56 roads, cutting off access to several communities and forcing residents to use longer alternative routes.
Community members highlighted the severe impact of the floods. Ms. Brenda Mayifala of the Mbaula Community Police Forum described widespread destruction of homes, including in Mpetanenge, and the death of a child, underscoring the urgent need for assistance.
The SADC mission also focused on understanding the coordination of response efforts across national, provincial, and municipal structures, identifying gaps, capacity constraints, and priority needs. Additionally, the team reviewed how South African authorities are managing transboundary water resources to minimize cascading flood impacts across Member States.
