Limpopo COGHSTA MEC hopeful for the safe rescue of a man stranded in flooded river
Limpopo Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC, Basikopo Makamu says he trusting in the combined multi-disciplinary rescue efforts of the provincial Disaster Management unit to see to the safe rescue of a man who has been stuck in the middle of the Letaba river in Tzaneen for the past four days.
The man is reported to have been on a makeshift shelter on a tree since Sunday the 12th of February, but because of the recent consistent heavy rainfall in the province the water levels rose, making it difficult for him to cross back to the riverbank.
The provincial Search and Rescue Unit has been working tirelessly in an attempt to retrieve him, but efforts were cut short in the wee hours of this morning due to the violence of the current. “Our Disaster Management members have been collaborating with provincial Saps and SANDF to dispatch a helicopter as the best intervention to get to him safely.
We are however worried about his well being as we believe he has been without food and water for the past multiple days,” says MEC Makamu.
The MEC adds that he is confident in the commitment of the of the brave men and women on the ground. He further reiterates his plea for residents of areas close to rivers and dams to avoid such masses of water especially during this rainy season. Two people have drowned in rivers in separate incidents in the province on Tuesday and their bodies retrieved.
Limpopo is among the provinces that have been placed under the National State of Disaster following the recent above-normal rainfall that has swept across parts of the country. “We again plead with our people to avoid flooded rivers. We are also aware that some of our people feel obliged to use these pools of water for religious reasons, but considering the clear fatal dangers at hand, we encourage you to postpone these activities,” said the MEC.
The current rainfall is forecasted to remain constant during in the early part of 2023.
Enquiries: Hitekani Magwedze (COGHSTA MEC Spokesperson)
Cell: 071 864 8664
Province
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