Five-Year-Old Missing After Limpopo Floods Sweep Him Away as Mother Is Rescued

While a Limpopo mother was eventually carried to safety by members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) after clinging to a tree when she was swept away by floodwaters while fleeing her home with her son, the five-year-old child has yet to be found.

Siyanda Baloyi has been missing since the early hours of Thursday. Police and rescue teams have been conducting intensive search efforts under dangerous conditions to locate the child, who lived in the flood-ravaged village of Mbaula, outside Giyani.

Authorities have confirmed that a Red Level 10 alert for disruptive rainfall was 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.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue teams, working alongside the SANDF and Emergency Medical Services, are pressing on despite raging floodwaters.

“Siyanda Baloyi was reported missing on Thursday morning, January 15,” Mashaba said.

Preliminary reports indicated that the boy went missing at around 6am after his mother attempted to flee their home, which had filled with water. As they tried to escape, both were allegedly swept 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 against a tree and was rescued by members of the SANDF.

“The search and rescue operations have been intensified by multi-disciplinary teams in an effort to locate the missing child,” Mashaba added.

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 safety is prioritised, especially during these rainy conditions,” Scheepers 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 appealed to 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.

DAILY NEWS