FLOODING AND RISING WATER LEVELS IN KAI !GARIB AND DAWID KRUIPER LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES

The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality wishes to update residents and stakeholders on the ongoing challenges posed by flooding and rising water levels in parts of our District, particularly within the Kai !Garib and Dawid Kruiper Local Municipalities.

Since the release of water from upstream dams on the 8th of April, the Orange River has risen steadily, placing significant pressure on several communities, farmlands, and road networks. In Kai !Garib Municipality, the response was swift and grounded in care. Municipal teams, together with community volunteers, initiated awareness campaigns and began relocating vulnerable individuals, among them the elderly, the ill, pregnant women, and school children, to stay with relatives and friends in safer areas outside the flood zones. Despite best efforts, several Islands (Eilande) have been overtaken by water. Perde Island, Meyers Island, Langklaas Island, Sand Island, Sandkop Island, George Island and several others are covered by water.

Furthermore, access routes in and around the affected areas have become hazardous. Authorities have had to close parts of the route to Cape Town to light vehicles due to dangerously high water levels. The gravel road to Tierberg is also flooded. We strongly urge all road users to avoid these areas entirely, especially the Oranje Rivier 1 route, as crossing these flooded zones poses extreme safety risks. Safety and risk avoidance remain our top priority, and strict adherence to road closures is requested from the public.

Meanwhile, in Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality, early preventative measures have played a crucial role in reducing the immediate impact on residents. The Municipality launched a prevention campaign as soon as rising levels were forecasted. However, the Duikweg route had to be closed due to encroaching waters, and access to Reitzpark and the Eiland has now been restricted as these areas have also begun to flood. While we are grateful that no residential communities are currently under direct threat, a great deal of attention and resources are being directed toward safeguarding river-adjacent properties and preparing for any further developments. Dawid Kruiper has contingency plans in place and continues to assess conditions daily.

The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality remains deeply committed to supporting all communities affected by this unfolding situation. We are working in close coordination with our local municipalities, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, and a multi-disciplinary network of partners, including various government departments, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders, to ensure that support, relief, and safety interventions reach those who need them most.

We want to thank our emergency response teams, municipal workers, community leaders, and every resident who has shown resilience and compassion in these difficult times. Your cooperation and commitment to safety are making a critical difference.

We urge all residents to remain alert, to follow official communication channels for updates, and to avoid flooded or restricted areas for their own safety and the safety of others. The strength of our District lies in how we come together in times of adversity, and we will continue to stand united in the days ahead.

ISSUED BY THE ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Martha Clarke

Communications Manager

0726964758

mclarke@zfm-dm.gov.za