A tragic incident unfolded in flood-ravaged Mthatha, Eastern Cape, as a young schoolgirl drowned after a terrifying encounter with a snake forced her to let go of her lifeline.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the affected areas on Friday, 13 June, to assess the extensive damage caused by the heavy floods that have swept through the region, claiming dozens of lives. It was during this visit that Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube shared the heart-wrenching details of the incident involving the pupil from Jumba Senior Secondary School.
According to Minister Gwarube, the pupil had been desperately clinging to a tree branch after the scholar transport vehicle she was travelling in was swept off a flooded bridge. She was not alone; the taxi driver was also holding onto nearby branches, both trying to stay above the powerful torrents.
However, as they fought to survive, the child spotted a snake slithering on the same tree. Gripped by panic, she released her hold on the branch and was instantly taken by the raging waters.
“They were both hanging on for a while when the child saw a snake and let go of a branch and was swept away,” Gwarube told President Ramaphosa.
This tragic incident forms part of a larger catastrophe that has gripped the province. Six pupils from Jumba Senior Secondary School have already been confirmed dead following the accident at the eFata bridge on Tuesday, 10 June, when their taxi was submerged while attempting to cross the flooded river. Emergency services managed to rescue three of the learners, while four more remain missing.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa elaborated on the circumstances that led to the accident. He said the driver had crossed the same bridge earlier that morning to collect the learners, which led him to mistakenly believe he could cross again despite the rising water.
“The explanation we get is that the driver passed the bridge to the other side to collect schoolkids, and his reasoning for wanting to cross again while the water was high was, ‘I had just crossed to collect the kids, so I can cross again,’” said Hlabisa.
Unfortunately, his miscalculation cost lives. The taxi’s engine stalled in the middle of the crossing, and the vehicle was soon swept away by the strong current. Rescue efforts were hampered by dangerously high water levels, making it impossible for emergency workers to reach the sinking taxi in time.
As of now, the official death toll from the floods across the province has risen to 78.
In response to the escalating disaster, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have urgently called on Minister Hlabisa to declare a national state of disaster. EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi stressed that the tragedy reflects a collective failure in preparation and response.
“The loss of 78 lives is not just a number; it’s a moral indictment on our preparedness,” said Mkhaliphi. “We call on the minister to invoke Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act and immediately declare a national state of disaster in the Eastern Cape.”
The Eastern Cape remains on high alert as more rain is forecast in the coming days.