A SANDF team was tasked with rescuing a family in Mbaula village, outside Giyani, Limpopo.
- A 5-year-old boy is missing after being swept away by floods in Mbaula village, Limpopo.
- His mother and sibling were rescued, with the mother hospitalised.
- The SANDF deployed helicopters and rescue teams, saving stranded residents, including a local chief and officials trapped at a port of entry.
Search teams spent the day on Thursday searching for a 5-year-old boy believed to have been swept away by severe floods in Mbaula village, Limpopo.
It is reported that the boy, his mother, and a sibling were carried away by floodwaters.
According to Mopani District Municipality spokesperson Odas Ngobeni, the mother and sibling were rescued, but the child remains unaccounted for.
“The search and rescue team will resume the search for the little boy in the morning,” Ngobeni said.
“The mother was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, along with another woman. The sibling is reported to be unharmed.”
READ | Limpopo floods force school closures, road shutdowns, flight cancellations
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-stricken parts of Limpopo on Thursday to assess the extent of the damage and the response of government entities.
The floods have caused widespread devastation, with rescue teams working tirelessly to evacuate those in danger and provide medical assistance to the injured.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has deployed three helicopters to the affected area to evacuate stranded people, including those seeking safety on rooftops and officials trapped at a port of entry.
Teams from the South African Air Force’s 17 and 19 squadrons began rescue operations on Wednesday at 23:00, continuing until 02:00 on Thursday, braving severe weather conditions to save people at risk of drowning.
Defence spokesperson Brigadier General Selinah Rawlins reported that the crew had been working on rescuing a family in Mbaula village when residents informed them of others who had been saved from rooftops and high-lying areas.
“One of the family members was rescued from a tree along the Olifants River, which is flooded and poses a threat to nearby residents,” said Rawlins.
“According to SANDF members currently involved in the operation, a local chief was rescued from the roof of his house. The aircrews are still assisting others trapped in trees, and those requiring medical attention are being transported to Maphutha Hospital, near Phalaborwa.”
WATCH | Limpopo flooding: Over 600 guests and staff evacuated from Kruger
Rawlins added that an Oryx helicopter was also tasked with rescuing Border Management Authority staff and members of the South African Police Service who were surrounded by water at the Pafuri port of entry.
Additionally, the Agusta (A109) helicopter was used to hoist 18 people to safety from the flooded Khambaku Lodge, located outside Phalaborwa.
Meanwhile, severe flooding in the Kruger National Park prompted the evacuation of 631 people, including 67 children, from four rest camps.
Rising river levels cut off access to key areas, such as Skukuza, Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge, forcing SANParks to deploy helicopters for rescue operations.
Overflows have been recorded in the Crocodile, Sabie, Letaba, Sand, Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers.
This has affected the Shingwedzi, Mopani, Oliphants and Letaba rest camps, where guests and staff were stranded as roads became inaccessible, leaving the camps cut off.
Search and rescue teams have been deployed to assist with the rescue of residents that were left stranded by severe flooding in parts of Limpopo. pic.twitter.com/hI8iemrbCT
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) January 15, 2026
SANParks also announced that it has taken the precautionary decision not to allow day visitors into the park until conditions improve.
The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 10 warning (high likelihood, severe impact) for disruptive rains and flooding in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga due to a tropical weather system.
The warning was valid from 11:00 on Thursday until 23:59 on Friday.
Forecasters predict another 100–200mm of accumulated rainfall over the next two days.
With the soil already saturated and rivers and dams overflowing, the weather service has warned of the high likelihood of the following severe impacts:
- widespread flooding of roads and settlements;
- danger to life (fast-flowing streams/ deep water);
- large communities not accessible/cut off for a prolonged period;
- widespread displacement of affected communities; and
- widespread damage to property and buildings, and loss of livelihoods and livestock.
