Following one of the coldest weeks in the country, South Africans are set to get a reprieve as the cold eases. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) forecast fine and cold to cool but partly cloudy weather with showers and rain expected in the north-east of the country.
There are currently no weather alerts on their website.
Earlier this week, the country was gripped with severe winter weather with the Eastern Cape experiencing snowfall and heavy rain.
President Cyril Ramaphosa even visited flood-affected areas in the Eastern Cape. The visit was due to rising casualties and damage to infrastructure in the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities.
Death toll stands
According to the latest reports, the death toll from the floods in the Eastern Cape has risen to 78. More than 1 000 people have been displaced.
Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, together with OR Tambo District Executive Mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana and King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality Executive Mayor Nyaniso Nelani, have dismissed claims that the Mthatha Dam caused the recent flooding in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
This comes after widely circulated social media videos spreading false information. They alleged that the recent floods were due to the opening of sluice gates at the Mthatha Dam.
In a statement issued on Friday, the department described the allegations as “unfounded and devoid of any truth.”
Mthatha Dam ‘fake news’
“The department that owns and operates the Mthatha Dam, can confirm that the dam does not have sluice gates. It has designed spillways which automatically release water when it reaches its full capacity. KSD and OR Tambo Municipalities have no jurisdiction over the dam. [The dam] is a source of water supply for the Mthatha area,” the department said.
The department also disputed a separate viral video purporting to show the Mthatha Dam overflowing. It said the dam shown in the footage is located over 20km downstream of the Mthatha dam. It is unrelated to the dam or flood-affected communities, said the department.
Following Tuesday’s flooding, the department said dam safety engineers were dispatched on the ground. They were sent out to assess the situation.
Their findings indicated a different cause related to the flooding. The flooding was caused by significant inflows from the Cicira tributary into the Mthatha River. This was downstream from the dam. And it resulted in the riverbanks overtopping.
Official report
“Upon assessment by the department’s engineers, the gauge readings at the dam indicated that on 9 June 2025 at 4pm, the water levels at the dam were sitting at 99.8%, which was a slight decline from the 99.9% of the previous week.
“However, by midnight on the same day, the dam experienced a sudden inflow of water from the rains in the upstream catchment. This increased the stored water from 99.8%% to 102%, leading to the dam spilling,” the department said.
The outflow of water from the dam coincided with the heavy flows from Cicira River downstream.
According to assessments, the upper reaches of the tributary also experienced flash flooding. This occurred in saturated conditions, leading to the Mthatha River overflowing its banks.
The department said it is working with the OR Tambo District to restore operations at the Thornhill Water Treatment Works. The area was also affected by the floods.
Efforts are also underway to resume its function and enable it to supply the town with potable water.
Minister condemns fake video
Majodina condemned the distribution of fake news. Particularly while the nation mourns the tragic deaths occasioned by the inclement weather. She also urged the public to be vigilant and verify the facts before sharing online.
“Read the room and refrain from inflicting more pain to those that are affected by the disaster,” Majodina said.
The minister also conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. The devastating floods have claimed 78 lives across the province, including over 50 of them from Mthatha alone.
- SAnews.gov.za
