Many dams and rivers are overflowing after the heavy rain pouring down in the north and northeastern part of Limpopo during the past two weeks. Several bridges have been damaged and many roads in the rural areas are closed.

Motorists who are staying in slippery mountain areas like Tshakhuma and Lwamondo are parking their vehicles near the main tarred road to Thohoyandou because they are unable to reach their destination.

Many people are suspecting a similar flood disaster as in 2000, as mud huts in the rural areas have collapsed due to the heavy rain. Due to the damage to their houses, several families have already lost groceries and other belongings.

When going to press, the bridge connecting the main road to Maungani was overflowing and pedestrians and vehicles were stranded. Several people were, however, forced to cross the bridge on foot.

A woman, Mrs Tshinakaho Matamela from the rural area of Hamasia in Vuwani, was stranded while trying to cross the bridge at Maungani. Matamela was on her way to the University of Venda to visit her daughter. She told Mirror that it is impossible for her to pass, as she was carrying a heavy plastic bag.

The co-ordinator of the Vhembe Disaster Management, Mr Tshidumbu Lalumbe, told Mirror that many pipe bridges around some parts of the former homelands of Gazankulu and Venda have been totally washed away by the heavy rain. Some of the families have been left homeless after their mud huts collapsed, but at this stage he has not received any report of people injured after the huts had fallen down.

"We as a disaster team are visiting different areas which have been affected by the disaster of floods. We are pleading with parents to warn their children not to swim in the dams or play near the rivers, because there are a lot of crocodiles. The river water is not clean, so we are pleading with people not use the water, to prevent cholera," said Lalumbe.

According to a report by the Government Communication and Information System (BuaNews), eight bridges in the Vhembe district are impassable, following storm damage over the weekend.

A spokesperson for the provincial Department of Public Works, Elvis Mavuso, said today affected communities are now forced to use alternative roads to get to work, school and run everyday errands. "Most of the bridges have structural problems, while others are under water," he said.

Mashamba Village is completely cut off because two bridges on either side of it have been damaged.

Mavuso said repair work can only begin once it has stopped raining. "We can't do anything now because the rivers are over flowing. The rains must also clear before we can do anything," he said.

The provincial Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has also reported that most dams in the province are now full. "This was really good rain because the water levels have improved dramatically," said spokesperson for the department, Mr Avhashoni Magada. He was quick to add that the good rains did not mean the drought had been broken. "We need a lot more rain to raise the ground water levels," he said.