South Africa declares a national disaster over flooding and severe weather

People walk through floodwaters in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa declared a national disaster Sunday over torrential rains and floods that have killed at least 30 people in the country’s north, damaged thousands of homes and washed away roads and bridges.

The declaration was made by the head of the National Disaster Management Center and announced by the government. It allows the national government to coordinate the response to the disaster.

The worst impact is in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where the fatalities occurred. But the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said at least three other provinces had also been affected by the severe weather.

Parts of South Africa and neighboring Mozambique and Zimbabwe have experienced heavy rains for weeks. That resulted in severe flooding in central and southern Mozambique and northern South Africa. More than 100 people have died in the three countries since the rains began late last year.

The floods in northern South Africa caused the closure of the Kruger National Park and the evacuation of hundreds of tourists and staff members from flooded camps to other parts of the park.

The premier of Limpopo province said the weather had caused around $240 million in damage in her province, with many houses and buildings washed away completely.

More than 100 people died in floods last year in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province in the south of the country, while more than 400 died in flooding in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province in 2022.

Rescue teams in South Africa continued with the search for four people, including 5- year-old Siyanda Baloyi believed to have been swept away when his home in Limpopo province was flooded last Thursday.

Authorities also said Sunday that a government official in South Africa’s Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, was missing after a vehicle he was traveling in was swept away by floods in Mozambique.

Andile Mngwevu and other occupants who were in the vehicle are still missing.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park was set to reopen for visitors after a suspension forced by heavy flooding which led to the evacuation of over 300 tourists and staff.

The park, which is one the biggest game reserves in the world covering about 2,000 hectares (7.7 square miles) bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe, suffered extensive damages as heavy downpours devastated the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces and killed more than 20 people.

The Associated Press

Associated Press writer Mogomotsi Magome in Nkomazi, South Africa contributed to this report.