Following warnings from the South African Weather Service on Tuesday morning about more thunderstorms to be expected, the Mpumalanga cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) has called off the search of the four missing people who were swept away during the ongoing floods in the province.

FATALITIES

Cogta said that they have reported three fatalities for now. One body was recovered in Mbombela and the other two bodies were recovered in Nkomazi which is one of the most affected areas. Speaking to ZiMoja, Mpumalanga Cogta spokesperson Lindiwe Msibi said that the search for the missing persons has been called off temporarily as the heavy rains persists. "The temporary humanitarian aid is currently being delivered to the most affected areas like Nkomazi and Mbombela municipalities. We have managed to recover three bodies, two in Nkomazi and one in Mbombela.  We have three fatalities in total and four bodies are still missing after they were swept away on Monday. We have temporarily called off the search as the rain is too much on this side,' she said.

STATE OF DISASTER DECLARED

The government has declared a national state of disaster in response to the floods in Mpumalanga,  Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and North West. The presidency said in a statement on Monday that Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape are the most affected provinces. "The National Disaster Management Centre has received reports ranging from flooded homes, vehicles swept away by floodwaters and overflowing dams and sewerage facilities, to the loss of basic infrastructure and damage to roads, bridges and a Limpopo hospital. In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses, and anticipate further losses as the South African Weather Service predicts that current heavy rains will persist.' the statement

SCHOOLS TEMPORARY CLOSED

Msibi said that schools have been temporarily closed as a result of floods. She added that some bridges are flooded which makes it impossible for school kids to cross to school. "Late on Monday, we were informed that there are houses in Nkomazi that were badly affected as they are flooded. "We have also provided temporary shelters for the families that are currently flooded after they were evacuated in most parts of the Nkomazi municipality,' Msibi added. ZiMoja reported on Monday that two people lost their lives in KwaZulu Natal after they were swept away at a bridge. An infant was also killed in the province when their family home was flooded. It was further reported that two more bodies were still missing after they are alleged to have been swept away in Danhausser outside Newcastle.