Chaos in South Africa Today! Storm Flooding Destroying Homes, Cars in Kuruman Kathu

Severe weather conditions continue to wreak havoc across Central South Africa as heavy rains and flooding in North West claimed the life of a child and disrupted communities, roads, and schooling. The young victim was swept away by fast-moving water while playing outdoors. She and friends were reportedly playing outside around 17:30 on Sunday afternoon (3/5) when she was swept by low current and drowned.Persistent rainfall in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district (including Vryburg, Schweizer-Reneke, and Reivilo) has caused widespread flooding, forcing the closure of key transport routes. The N14 between Vryburg and Kuruman remains shut due to dangerous water levels, while the N18 between Vryburg and Taung, which had also been closed, has since reopened and is drivable. A number of villages have been severely affected by the floods, including Kgomotso, Madithamaga, Ga-Taote, Thota-ya-Tau, Spitskop, Mammutla, Kameelput, Choseng, Mokasa, Mokgareng, Matlapaneng, Qho!, Vaaltyn, Tamasikwa and Takaneng. The worst affected areas in the province include areas around Vryburg and Taung, following heavy rain over the long weekend. The N14 between Vryburg and Kuruman, the N18 near Tigerkloof as well as the road between Schweizer-Reneke and Bloemhof have all been closed. “Taung Dam is reported to be overflowing which may exacerbate the situation in surrounding villages of Cokonyane, Modimong, Manthe and Kolong. Meanwhile, A catastrophic weather system tore through the mining town of Kathu in the Northern Cape on May 5, 2026, leaving a trail of destruction, widespread power outages, and significant structural damage. The storm began in the late afternoon when a massive supercell developed over the Kalahari, moving rapidly toward the Gamagara Local Municipality. Local residents reported "tennis-ball-sized" hail that shattered windows and dented vehicles parked in the open. The sheer volume of water overwhelmed the town's drainage systems, leading to rapid flash flooding in residential areas and the main business district. Several roofs were completely ripped off houses in the older suburbs, while modern complexes suffered significant glass breakage and water ingress. High-velocity winds toppled several medium-voltage electricity pylons, plunging Kathu and surrounding mining operations into total darkness. Eskom technicians are currently on-site, but officials warn that full restoration could take days. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued multiple severe weather warnings for several parts of South Africa. The weather service said South Africans can expect widespread disruptive rainfall, flooding, and dangerous conditions, with storm warnings at levels 2 to 8 in effect from 5 to 7 May 2026. The most serious conditions are expected in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, where disaster response teams have been placed on high alert. “An intense Cut-off Low pressure system is expected to result in scattered to widespread showers and rain over the eastern parts of the Western Cape from Wednesday into Thursday,” it said. The situation has escalated further along the coast, with the Garden Route expected to bear the brunt of the storm. “Severe impacts are possible over the eastern parts of the Garden Route (including George, Knysna, Bitou, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn) with an Orange Level 8 Warning for disruptive rainfall in effect,” SAWS said. #storm #floods #hail