Heavy rains force more than 700 Nelson Mandela Bay residents into temporary shelters

More than 700 residents of Nelson Mandela Bay were evacuated and accommodated in temporary shelters after heavy rainfall flooded yards and homes across the metro, municipal officials said.

Who was affected

Localised flooding following persistent rains affected more than 21 wards across the metro. Multiple communities reported flood-related impacts, including Missionvale, Kariega, Jubilee Park, Bayland, Qunu, Chatty, Veeplaas, KwaNoxolo, Motherwell, Walmer, Walmer Location, New Brighton, Grogro, Asinavalo, Kamvelihle and Emthini Informal Settlement.

Evacuations and shelter

On Thursday, 4 June 2026, around 700 residents were temporarily housed at the Lithembaletu Community Hall after rains flooded their homes and yards. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality activated about six temporary shelters across the metro to accommodate displaced residents.

The activated shelters are located in Walmer, Asinavalo Kamvelihle, Grogro KwaLanga, Bayland, Qunu and Airport Valley. Municipal teams and non-governmental organisations provided humanitarian support including blankets, mattresses, food parcels and hot meals.

Response and impact

To date, the metro has recorded at least 84 incidents related to the storm, including flooded homes, flooded streets, power outages, stormwater challenges and road closures. Municipal teams remained deployed throughout affected communities to provide assistance and conduct impact and needs assessments. No fatalities or injuries were reported.

Housing site preparations

In a video posted by the municipality, Ward 40 Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said many residents who sought shelter do not have formal house structures and are vulnerable when water enters their homes.

“We are now here at Fairview in Ward 40, an area that is a farm area, and all these residents have no formal structures, but they are faced with this condition of water coming into the houses.”

The city has identified and prepared 23 housing sites, with seven already actively housing evacuees, Lobishe said.

Schools and exams

Schools in flood-prone areas that closed during the midweek storm officially reopened on Friday, 5 June 2026. The Eastern Cape Department of Education said alternative arrangements were made for some mid-year examination papers affected by the weather, specifically Accounting Paper 1 and Economics Paper 1 written on 3 to 4 June 2026.

The department issued Assessment Instruction 13 of 2026 and asked schools that could not write affected papers to report details to their District Office in writing. The Head of Department, Sharon Maasdorp, said there will be no provincial “back-up” examination papers and that district subject advisors will guide schools on alternative writing dates. “The alternative dates will be communicated to affected schools once all arrangements have been finalised by the District curriculum specialists, in consultation with principals and subject teachers at the affected schools,” she concluded.

Ongoing operations

Municipal teams continue to assess needs and support affected communities while shelters remain in operation to provide emergency relief to displaced residents.