South Africa hit by floods and power cuts

BBC News

At least 700 homes have been washed away near Pretoria, as heavy rains continue to batter South Africa and submerge entire neighbourhoods. Coal mines and power stations have been flooded in a nation already suffering from electricity blackouts. 

State-run power company, Eksom, has warned of further electricity cuts as heavy rains continue to affect operations. 6,000 megawatts - approximately 10% of the grid - has now been switched off. 

The crisis has forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to shorten his trip to Egypt. 

Power cuts have also halted gold and diamond production at some of the country’s largest mines. Harmon Gold said it had called off underground shifts. Petra Diamonds stated it was “removing all people from underground, except those required for essential services, with only pumping to prevent flooding and ventilation for safety being allowed.”

South Africa’s weather bureau has warned of continued flooding in the economic heartland of Guateng and several other provinces. Two rivers have already burst their banks, submerging flimsily built homes in the poor neighbourhood of Mamelodi, east of Pretoria. One person has died in the floods. 

South Africa is the most recent African nation to be affected by floods. According to the UN, almost 300 people have died and 2.8 million have been affected by flooding in East and Central Africa. 

President Ramaphosa's office said he would visit a flood-hit area and Eskom's headquarters on Wednesday to discuss how the electricity crisis could be resolved.

His decision to return from Egypt came after the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised him for going abroad during the crisis.

"Ramaphosa is greatly mistaken if he thinks he can run a country and manage this crisis via a cell phone. This requires bold leadership, not platitudes," DA interim leader Johan Steenhuizen said.

Earlier, Mr Ramaphosa acknowledged that years of corruption and mismanagement lay behind Eskom's troubles.

He insisted the government was taking the necessary steps to fix Eskom and other state companies like the national airline, which is now teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.