The death toll from recent severe weather across South Africa has risen to 18. Most fatalities occurred in the Western Cape amid storms that caused widespread power outages and flooding.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa expressed condolences to affected families. His spokesperson confirmed 11 deaths in the Western Cape, three in the Northern Cape, two in the Free State, and one each in the North West and Mpumalanga.
In the Western Cape, electricity has been restored to about 62 percent of storm-affected areas. Minister Anton Bredell said Eskom teams are working in the Cape Winelands and Theewaterskloof districts. More than 10,700 faults have been repaired in Cape Town since 11 May.
The Eastern Cape also suffered major impacts from fires and flooding. Over 3,000 people were displaced in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, with water and power outages reported. Kouga Municipality Mayor Hattingh Bornman noted that fires earlier in the year damaged farming communities before recent rains caused further losses.
