The Limpopo Province has been severely affected by heavy rains, which has resulted in a dam in Bela Bela bursting its banks, Times Live reported.
"There is water all over Bela Bela; rescue efforts by the police and the municipality's emergency services are under way," Limpopo Police Spokesman, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, was quoted as saying. People in Bela Bela were being evacuated last week.
The South African Weather Service on Thursday warned that excessive rainfall over the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country had impacted infrastructure. The service said roads in and leading to the Kruger National Park had been flooded and authorities had no option but to close some of the entrance gates to the park.
While EWN reported that a dam at the Thaba Monaté Game Lodge in Bela Bela burst its banks on Thursday, Pierre van der Merwe of Thaba Monaté confirmed to Tourism Update, that this was not the case. He said the flooded dam was near Bela Bela town and the lodge had not been flooded. Thaba Monaté is still accommodating guests but game drives have been affected because of damage to the roads in the area.
Welgevonden Game Reserve was closed on Thursday following the rains. However Dean Laubscher from Tsheshepe Lodge in Welgevonden said the reserve was opened again on Friday. According to him, the main roads in the reserve have been reopened but some of the roads were still closed.
SANParks advised on Friday morning that the S52, S56, S63 and S64 roads to Thulamela in the Nxanatseni Region in the Kruger National Park had been closed, adding that the region was experiencing heavy rain. Many of the roads in the Marula region are also still closed.
