A Community’s Heartbreak: Toddler Lost to Mpumalanga’s Raging Floodwaters

In a devastating incident that underscores the lethal danger of the ongoing heavy rains, a two-year-old boy has drowned after being swept away by raging floodwaters in White River, Mpumalanga. The tragedy occurred as the region remains under severe weather warnings, with rivers and streams bursting their banks.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the toddler, Sibusiso Mnisi, was at home in Msholozi C on Tuesday while his mother, Thapiseng Mnisi, briefly left to cross a nearby stream. Unbeknownst to her, the child woke up and followed her out of the house.

“It is alleged that the boy attempted to cross the stream on his own but was swept away by the strong current and drowned,” Ndubane said. Emergency personnel were summoned but could only certify the child’s death. An inquest case has been opened.

A Stern Warning Amidst Continued Deluge

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi expressed heartfelt condolences and issued an urgent warning. He urged communities to “exercise extreme caution,” emphasizing that overflowing streams, rivers, and dams pose a grave threat during the current weather.

The tragedy coincides with widespread disruption across the Lowveld. The Kruger National Park is grappling with major road closures and restricted access between camps like Lower Sabie and Skukuza due to the relentless downpour. SANParks has warned that more adverse weather is expected, compounding the challenges for residents, travellers, and wildlife.

This heartbreaking loss is a grim reminder of nature’s force during the summer storm season. For a family in White River, the floodwaters have brought an unimaginable and permanent sorrow. For the broader community, it is a call for heightened vigilance, as the forecast promises little relief and the ground remains dangerously saturated.