The death toll from the recent flooding in Limpopo has risen to 25.
This was announced by the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) in the province on Monday.
Search and rescue
The department’s spokesperson, Tsakani Baloyi, said they are saddened by the rise in the number of fatalities in the province since the beginning of inclement weather in December 2025.
Baloyi said search-and-rescue operations continue in the hardest-hit areas, including Mbaula.
“The number of missing persons remains at 3, one from Mbaula and 2 from Thulamela.”
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Flood damage
Limpopo recently experienced severe weather, including heavy rainfall, thunderstorms with hail, strong winds, and flooding, which affected mainly Mopani, Vhembe, Waterberg, and parts of Sekhukhune.
Beyond loss of life, the weather also caused serious damage to homes and public infrastructure, including roads, schools, health centres, the environment and agriculture.
National disaster
The recent devastating floods in Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been classified as a national disaster.
The classification was made by the head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Ellas Sithole, on Saturday.
“After assessing the magnitude and severity of the severe weather that resulted in lightning, strong and damaging surface winds, heavy rainfall and flooding from late December 2025 in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and North West provinces, that resulted in the loss of life, damage to property Infrastructure and the environment, as well as the disruption of basic services, hereby give notice that I regard this occurrence as a disaster, I classify the disaster as a national disaster.”
Costs
The National Disaster Management Centre will lead relief efforts, with all government departments mobilised to support affected areas.
The cost of repairing the damage is reported to be in the billions of rands, as residents battle to navigate flooded roads and rescue what remains of their homes.
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