By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said heavy rain was expected in some parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo over the weekend, as tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall in neighbouring Mozambique on Friday.
The cyclone was expected to bring heavy rains to Musina, Makhado, Phalaborwa, and Tzaneen in Limpopo just as some parts of that province, Gauteng and Mpumalanga recover from recent heavy flooding.
A national state of disaster was declared due to the floods after at least 21 people died in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga almost two weeks ago.
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has called on communities to heed the warning from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and disaster management teams across the country regarding tropical cyclone Freddy.
Even though SAWS indicated that Freddy will have a very localised and limited impact on South Africa in the days ahead, Dlamini Zuma has urged all South Africans to be cautious, as rains are still expected in some parts of the country.
According to SAWS, the only province where there is a significant risk of direct impact from Freddy, in terms of heavy rain, flooding and/or wind damage, is in the eastern districts of Limpopo, in particular, Vhembe and Mopani.
These districts, including the northern half of the Kruger National Park (KNP), will be on the periphery of the heavy rain.
“To this effect, SAWS has issued a Level 5 orange warning, in terms of the SAWS Impact-Based Warnings system for the easternmost sections of Vhembe and Mopani respectively,” CoGTA explained.
The department has warned that this above-normal quantity of rainfall may lead to flooding, as the ground is already saturated after the recent rains.
“We urge all people living in low-lying or flood-prone areas to be careful and monitor the rising water levels and evacuate to safer areas or higher ground.”
Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha during the SOPA said the province needs to seriously consider reviving and building infrastructure given the recent floods.
The Provincial Disaster Management Center (PDMC) is in contact with district and local disaster management centres coordinating with all the role players as the heavy downpours are expected in the Mopani and Vhembe Districts.
The province has received large quantities of rain in the past two weeks as per the recent reports from the South African Weather Service (SAWS).