This was stated by premier, Mandla Ndlovu during his inspection of the flood-stricken areas, together with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
This includes Msholozi where a 45-year-old woman and a toddler were swept away by water near a bridge in two separate incidents last week. Another incident occurred in Ga-Moreku, Bushbuckridge where Sepolisi Aaren Silubane lost his life.

Premier Ndlovu pleaded with Good samaritans, the community and foundations, to lend a helping hand.
“The damage estimation so far is roughly close to R2 billion and with our fiscus, we cannot fix all the damages incurred.”

READ | Mpumalanga floods leave trail of destruction

The Minister said since the province could not afford the costs on its own, a meeting would be convened where all three spheres of government would be activated to re-prioritise budgets in order to intervene in affected communities.

“Interventions will be made so that life can go back to normal. I was also impressed when the premier and the MEC informed me that the bridge where Esther Mathenjwa was washed away, would be temporally repaired to allow communities and vehicles to cross over. “Already, a permanent plan has already been made in terms of building a permanent bridge and which will at no stage place the lives of our communities at risk,” said the minister.

Mathenjwa was swept away by water last Wednesday evening on her way from work and her body was recovered the next day. She will be laid to rest on Tuesday, January 20.

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Esther Mathenjwa (45) was swept away by water near White River on Tuesday evening on her way from work.
According to the deceased’s partner, she usually arrives around 19:00 every evening, but he started getting worried when her arrival time passed.

“When I received the news that she had been swept away by water, we started a search with her colleagues’ husbands and our neighbours. It took us almost the whole night. We stopped and continued at 05:00 until her body was discovered.”

He says what disturbed him the most was the unusual crying of their youngest daughter who shared a bed with her mom.

“I asked why she is crying and she told me she wants her mother because she is not here. I was hoping I would visit her in hospital, not her body being taken away in a mortuary bag. I feel as if I failed her because maybe I should have tried harder, but because it was already dark, I could not find and save her. She’s gone and I am heartbroken because she was the love of my life,” said an emotional Morgan.

READ | Toddler drowns in Msholozi

Morgan, who depended on his wife after he suffered a stroke, pleaded with anyone who wishes to assist the family to contact him on 060 705-0646.

Meanwhile, police confirmed that this is the second incident in Msholozi this week. Lt Col Jabu Ndubane urged communities to avoid flooded areas and crossing streams. Mathenjwa leaves behind her husband and five children.

The post “I failed my sweetheart”- husband of woman swept away by water appeared first on MP Mirror Online.