Mother survives floods by clinging to a tree, search on for 5-year-old boy
A village holds its breath as teams hunt for boy swept away by Giyani floodwaters.
Image: SA Government/ X
A desperate search is underway in flood-ravaged Mbaula village outside Giyani, Limpopo, where police and rescue teams are battling dangerous conditions in an effort to find a missing five-year-old boy.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the South African Police Service Search and Rescue teams, working alongside the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Emergency Medical Services, are pressing on despite raging waters.
"Siyanda Baloyi was reported missing on Thursday morning, January 15," Mashaba said.
The child is believed to have been swept away by floodwaters in the early hours of the morning.
Preliminary reports indicate that the boy went missing at about 6 am after his mother attempted to flee their home, which had filled with water.
As they tried to escape, both were allegedly carried away by the force of the floods.
In a moment that has offered the family some solace amid the anguish, the child's mother survived after becoming trapped by a tree.
She was later rescued by members of the SANDF. The boy, however, could not be located, prompting an intensified search operation by a multi-disciplinary team combing the area.
A Red Level 10 alert for disruptive rainfall remains in effect across parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with the South African Weather Service (Saws) warning that the threat of extensive and potentially life-threatening flooding continues to escalate.
"The Search and Rescue operations have been intensified by the multi-disciplinary teams to try and locate the missing child," Mashaba said, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Major General Jan Scheepers, has appealed to communities affected by flooding to cooperate closely with law enforcement to ensure their safety during the ongoing severe weather conditions.
"Our multi-disciplinary teams will continue to navigate dangerous waters to reach and assist residents in distress. It is important that we prioritise safety especially during these rainy conditions," he said.
"We urge the public not to attempt to cross rivers, streams, or bridges under any circumstances. Floodwaters are unpredictable and extremely dangerous."
Police have also called on anyone who may have information that could assist in safely locating the child to contact Detective Lieutenant Colonel Mbalati JJ on 082 565 6491 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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