Johannesburg – The cost of damage caused by floods in Mpumalanga is estimated at R535m, the provincial government said on Wednesday.
“Cabinet has since approved the declaration of a state of disaster in the province,” said spokesperson Zibonele Mncwango.

The affected municipalities were Nkomazi, Mkhondo and Bushbuckridge.

Mncwango said the floods damaged major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, housing, schools, and agriculture and water quality.

The province recorded 12 deaths, and 254 houses were reportedly flooded.

The province had earlier sent a team to assess the extent of the damage caused by the rain to affected areas.

The team provided blankets, collapsible structures, tents and food parcels.

SAPA