As severe floods continue to ravage Mozambique, South Africa has sent a team to assist in rescue efforts for a local politician swept away by floodwaters. Andile Mngwevu, a councillor from the Ekurhuleni municipality near Johannesburg, was in Mozambique's Gaza province when their vehicle was caught in rising waters. Reports indicate that only one of the five passengers has been accounted for, while the status and whereabouts of the others remain unconfirmed.
The extended flooding has not only impacted South Africa but has also led to a humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, prompting President Daniel Chapo to cancel his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos. In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the deployment of two helicopters to assist with rescue operations and recovery efforts, stating that they will remain until the conditions in Mozambique improve.
The flooding has already claimed over 100 lives and caused extensive damage to infrastructure throughout the region. As the rainy season begins in central and northern Mozambique, heavy rainfall is predicted, raising fears of further flooding as the region enters its cyclone season.
