Limpopo Village Cut Off as Relentless Floods Cause Desperation
Gunda, Limpopo – Residents of Gunda village in Limpopo are facing a mounting crisis as relentless floods batter the province, leaving them trapped and increasingly desperate. Roads have been washed away, cutting off the village from essential supplies and emergency services, and leaving residents fearing for their safety and well-being.
Limpopo has been experiencing its fifth consecutive day of flooding, with many roads severely damaged or completely washed away. The situation has become so dire that residents are struggling to access basic necessities like food.
David Mdakuseni, a Gunda resident living with his wife and grandchildren, painted a stark picture of the situation. "Our biggest worry is what will happen in an emergency because the roads are damaged," he said. "It’s difficult to find bread in the shops. Even mealie meal is running out." Mdakuseni also highlighted the impact on employment, with residents "sending pictures to their bosses so that they don’t lose their jobs. The situation is scary. We don’t know how long it is going to be like this."
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, echoed Mdakuseni's concerns, stating: "We are running out of food, and the spaza shops also don’t have enough groceries because no one can leave our village. Please help us."
The South African Weather Service issued a Red Level 10 warning on Thursday for disruptive rainfall over parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, escalating from the Orange Level 9 warnings that had been in place in recent days. The two provinces have been particularly hard hit by the severe rainfall, with floods claiming 19 lives in the past week, according to reports. Mpumalanga has recorded 14 fatalities and Limpopo five, based on figures from the disaster management centre.
Malcolm Nephawe, chair of the YA Gunda Civic Organisation, highlighted that the current crisis is compounded by long-standing infrastructure failures in the area. He recalled that in 2021, the Limpopo public works department began road construction in the area after a child drowned during floods.
"They only paved a small portion of the road and promised to come back and redo it, but nothing happened," Nephawe said, expressing his frustration at the lack of progress. "There are bridges here, and when it rains, people can’t do anything."
The Limpopo police have confirmed that SAPS pilots, search and rescue teams, the SANDF, and other emergency services have been deployed in the province to assist residents stranded by the flooding.
"These operations are ongoing as the situation remains dangerous and unpredictable," police said in a statement. The public has been urged to co-operate with authorities as efforts continue to save lives and secure vulnerable communities.
The immediate priority is to provide relief to those affected by the floods and to restore access to Gunda village. However, the long-term solution lies in addressing the underlying infrastructure issues that have exacerbated the impact of the disaster. The unfulfilled promises of road repairs and improved infrastructure must be revisited to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety and well-being of the residents of Gunda and other vulnerable communities in Limpopo. The coming days will be critical as emergency services work to assist those stranded and the government assesses the extent of the damage and plans for recovery.
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