The Mopani District Municipality is urging residents to remain vigilant in the midst of the persistent heavy rainfall. The MDM’s Disaster Management Centre (MDM DMC) has been working closely with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) since the start of the heavy rains last week.
Initial impact-based weather warnings received from SAWS indicated a Level 2 warning, or high likelihood of minor impacts for Wednesday (8 February 2023). By Wednesday this had been upgraded to a Level 5 warning for disruptive rain with a medium likelihood for significant impacts for Wednesday evening. SAWS indicated that the rainfall was as the result of tropical sourced air which would be interacting with cooler, mid-latitudinal air.
Heavier rainfall was expected for the Limpopo Lowveld and Escarpment region from Thursday evening and Friday morning. With soil heavily saturated by Friday, higher level 9 weather warnings were subsequently issued over the weekend. By Sunday, many dams were already overflowing and rivers running strongly.
The Executive Mayor Cllr Pule Shayi has welcomed the rain but also expressed his sadness at the reported drowning of a Grade 10 learner on Sunday from Mamokgadi village in the Greater Letaba Municipality. He also expressed confidence on the specialized teams led by the South African Police Service as they continue with the search and rescue operation.
Mopani District Municipality’s disaster management team remains on high alert. We urge our residents to also remain vigilant. Members of the public are strongly urged not to enter low-lying areas, cross rivers, flooded roads or flooded low-lying bridges. Parents are advised to monitor the whereabouts of children and not to allow them to swim in rivers or streams. With the soil already heavily saturated, flash-flooding can occur rapidly with little chance of survival for anyone caught in the flow. We also wish to advise motorists to drive with caution, reduce speed and increase following distance.
The MDM’s Disaster Management Centre is on high alert, and we advise members of the public to report emergencies to the Mopani Centralised Communication Centre (CCC) on (015) 306-7000, 060 551 1911 or 060 551 1910.
