By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Carlos Júnior.
Search and rescue efforts underway after a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in Gauteng car was swept away by floods in Mozambique.
The City of Ekurhuleni confirmed the news on Sunday.
MMC for Transport Andile Mngwevu was in the Chokwé area of southern Mozambique at the time of the incident.
The City says they have received information through official diplomatic and security channels, which confirms that Mngwevu had travelled to the Chokwé area in Mozambique.
A South African Rescue Mission deployed to Mozambique, has established contact with one of the five individuals who were travelling in the vehicle at the time it was swept away.
The Office of the Executive Mayor, working with the national government, has meanwhile facilitated support to Mngwevu’s spouse, who arrived in Mozambique, late Saturday evening.
Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe says the status of the other occupants also remains unconfirmed.
“ We are just waiting in bated breath and praying that all is well. I cannot confirm what was the purpose of the travel. I know that there are talks to move to the South African consulate in Mozambique. The executive mayor has also been in contact with the MMC’s spouse who arrived in Mozambique on Saturday.”
Over the past five days, areas in Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been battered by incessant rain as a storm that first started over Mozambique quickly travelled into the border provinces.
Weather services across the region have issued further alerts, raising fears of additional flooding.
Mozambique disaster management authorities said 103 people had died during an unusually severe rainy season since late last year.
The figure includes deaths caused by flooding, lightning strikes, infrastructure collapse and a cholera outbreak linked to contaminated water supplies.