Mozambique Flood Rescue: SA Team Joins Search Effort

South Africa–Mozambique disaster response coordination

South Africa has dispatched a team to support rescue operations in Mozambique after a South African local politician was swept away by floodwaters while visiting the neighbouring country. The move reflects the practical, cross-border nature of disaster cooperation, as officials on both sides manage rapidly changing conditions and difficult terrain.

Search for Ekurhuleni councillor Andile Mngwevu

The missing person is Andile Mngwevu, a councillor in the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg. Officials said he was travelling with four others in Mozambique’s Gaza province when their car was caught in floodwaters. Local authorities have treated the incident as an active search and rescue operation.

Unconfirmed status of other vehicle occupants

In a statement, the Ekurhuleni municipality said Mngwevu is the only person accounted for, while the “status and whereabouts of the other occupants remain unconfirmed”. The phrasing underscores the uncertainty that often surrounds flood emergencies, where communications and access can be disrupted and information arrives unevenly.

Helicopter support and regional assistance pledged

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that two helicopters had been deployed to assist Mozambique. He said the aircraft would help “for a number of days until their situation subsides”, signalling a time-bound but flexible contribution aimed at immediate life-saving needs during the peak of the emergency response.

Flood impacts in Mozambique and South Africa

Flooding has affected parts of both countries, with Mozambique facing severe consequences. Weeks of flooding there have damaged infrastructure and killed more than 100 people, according to the account provided. The scale of disruption helps explain the urgency behind regional support and the reliance on air assets for reconnaissance and rescue.

Political schedule disrupted by flood crisis

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo cancelled a planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos as flooding intensified. The cancellation illustrates how natural disasters can rapidly reorder national priorities, pushing crisis management to the forefront and concentrating senior-level attention on response coordination and public safety measures.

Rainy season and cyclone-season risk outlook

The rainy season has begun in central and northern Mozambique, with further heavy rain forecast across large parts of the country as it enters its annual cyclone season. The outlook adds pressure on responders, as additional rainfall can re-flood cleared areas, slow searches, and complicate efforts to stabilise damaged infrastructure.