News24 | Limpopo floods force school closures, road shutdowns, flight cancellations

Massive flooding in the Mopani and Vhembe districts has left roads impassable, disrupting access to key areas.

• Massive flooding in the Mopani and Vhembe districts has left roads impassable and disrupted access to key destinations.
• Airlink has suspended flights to and from Hoedspruit due to inaccessible roads.
• The education department has closed schools in affected areas for safety.

Parts of Limpopo are grappling with severe weather conditions as relentless rainfall has caused widespread flooding, leading to the closure of schools and roads and the suspension of flights.

The Mopani and Vhembe districts are among the hardest hit, with guests at Kruger National Park being evacuated and significant infrastructure damage reported.

Communities in and around the Kruger National Park’s Pafuri and Giriyondo gates, as well as surrounding lodges and resorts, have also been affected.

The Maruleng Local Municipality has had to enforce precautionary road closures on several roads and urged motorists, tourists, pedestrians and all residents to exercise extreme caution.

The municipality has also reported damage to infrastructure and destruction of property in some areas.

Airline announced on Wednesday that it has suspended all its flights to and from Hoedspruit due to flooded roads making the airport inaccessible.

The airline announced that about ten of its scheduled flights would be cancelled.

“Airlink flights will resume as soon as the relevant authorities declare it safe for the airport to resume operations,” the airline said in a statement.

“Airlink is in constant liaison with local stakeholders, including SANParks and the various private lodges in the area, to assist passengers who are stranded at those destinations.”

READ | Severe flooding in Kruger National Park forces closures, relocations

The airline said it has alerted customers booked to fly to or from the airport for the rest of the week.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this is causing our customers. Airlink personnel are working with their counterparts at SANParks and the other service providers to do everything possible to minimise the disruption and expedite the resumption of our flights and operations at Hoedspruit airport,” said de Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink.

Engelbrecht said updates will be posted online on Airlink’s app, website and social media channels.

Meanwhile, the education department in the region has urged affected schools to remain closed as flooding is making access dangerous for pupils and educators.

Spokesperson Mike Maringa said the department would monitor the affected areas with the assistance of disaster teams in affected municipalities and provide updates on a daily basis.

Maringa said over 1 040 schools were closed in the two districts with Vhembe East being the most affected.

Maringa said:

“The department will advise when it is suitable for schooling to resume in the affected areas.”

The South African Weather Service issued a Level 9 severe weather warning, predicting persistent heavy rainfall throughout the week.

The weather service forecast that rainfall accumulation is expected to exceed normal seasonal levels within a short period in that region.

With higher rain intensities expected to continue, residents are advised to remain indoors where possible, avoid travelling and exercise caution near rivers, bridges and low-lying areas that are prone to flooding.