MTHATHA, EASTERN CAPE – The death toll from the devastating floods that tore through parts of the Eastern Cape last week has climbed to 92, after two more bodies were recovered on Wednesday night, including that of a teenage girl found along the Mthatha River.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the updated toll on Wednesday evening, revealing that Mthatha remains the hardest-hit town, accounting for 68 of the fatalities recorded so far. “We have made progress,” Mabuyane said during a media briefing. “We’ve identified 86 of the bodies, and 83 have already been collected by their families.”
The provincial government has called on anyone with missing relatives to report their cases to the nearest police station, as rescue and recovery teams continue combing the area for more victims.
The floods, which swept through the province following days of relentless rainfall, left a trail of destruction, washed away homes, and cut off entire communities from essential services. Over 4,300 people have been left homeless, with thousands more in desperate need of food, clean water, shelter, and medical attention.
“We are now in the relief and recovery phase,” Mabuyane said. “Temporary accommodation is being arranged for displaced families, and work is underway to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges.”
He added that all three spheres of government — local, provincial, and national — were “working flat out” to respond to the crisis. Several affected regions remain inaccessible, while others are still battling water shortages and electricity cuts.
As officials continue to assess the scale of the disaster, support has reportedly been “pouring in from all corners of the globe,” according to Mabuyane. Humanitarian organisations, private companies, neighbouring provinces, and international partners have pledged assistance to boost relief operations.
The province will observe a Day of Mourning in Mthatha on Thursday to honour the lives lost. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and memorial services are expected to be held in several communities as grieving families prepare for burials.
The tragedy has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the province’s disaster management systems, with calls for long-term solutions to better prepare for climate-related disasters. Many of the homes swept away were located in low-lying informal settlements, areas often overlooked during urban planning.
“This should be a turning point,” said a spokesperson from a local disaster response NGO. “We need resilient housing, early warning systems, and coordinated emergency responses going forward. Climate change is real — and it’s hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.”
Meanwhile, emergency services, supported by community volunteers and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), are continuing rescue operations, delivering food parcels and assisting families still searching for missing loved ones.
Some of the worst-affected villages surrounding Mthatha remain cut off by collapsed bridges and washed-out roads. Helicopters have been used in some areas to reach stranded families.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is expected to visit the region in the coming days, has commended the ongoing efforts and offered condolences to the bereaved. “We stand with the people of the Eastern Cape in this hour of grief,” he said in a statement. “Government will not rest until every affected family receives the support they need.”
For now, the focus remains on saving lives, restoring basic services, and preparing displaced communities for the long road to recovery. But for many in Mthatha and surrounding areas, the emotional and economic scars left by the floodwaters may take years to heal.
