Ramaphosa Blames Climate Change As Floods Kill 78 In South Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday visited survivors of the deadly floods that claimed at least 78 lives in the Eastern Cape province, describing the disaster as a consequence of climate change.

During his tour of the affected areas, Ramaphosa met with residents whose homes, schools, roads, and health facilities were engulfed in mud and floodwaters. Many people in this impoverished region have been left with nothing.

Rescue teams continued going door to door, searching for both victims and survivors. Many people were trapped in their homes as the water surged in during the night. Some managed to escape to their rooftops, where they waited for hours to be rescued.

Ramaphosa visited the site where a school bus was swept away, resulting in the deaths of at least six children and three adults. Four children were still unaccounted for at the time of the visit.

He also met a woman who had lost her mother and at least two young nephews. The woman, overcome with emotion, wept as the president listened to her.

“This is a catastrophic disaster which is caused by climate change,” said Ramaphosa, noting that the floodwaters had risen more than four metres (13 feet) high.

“During winter, we expect cold as well as snow here in the Eastern Cape. Now that we are confronting floods, this goes to show the severity of the issue of climate change.”

While snow and rainfall are expected in winter, the coastal areas of South Africa experienced what Ramaphosa described as “unprecedented” weather conditions on Thursday.

According to the Green Climate Fund, South Africa is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change, which has intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

The official death toll stood at 78 as of Thursday, but authorities warned the number could rise. Bodies were still being recovered from a nearby river as of Friday morning.

The city of Mthatha, located roughly 800 kilometres (500 miles) south of Johannesburg, was among the hardest hit. This area also includes Qunu, the birthplace of former President and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

The South African Red Cross Society reported that at least 3,500 households were impacted, with many people taking shelter in community halls.

On Thursday, AFP journalists witnessed a rescue team retrieve four bodies—some of them children—from a one-roomed house. The scene was filled with debris, and emotional locals looked on in grief.

“When we came out of the house, the water was above the knee, all the furniture inside was floating,” Sopiseka, a survivor, told AFP.

Ali Sablay, a representative of the disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation, said the number of people needing assistance could rise significantly.

“The homes are fragile; they can collapse anytime. Food is contaminated, so people need to be evacuated,” said Sablay.

Local officials confirmed that at least 20 health facilities and 58 schools sustained damage during the floods.