TAUNG - Flooding in Taung, North West, has cut off several villages, leaving residents stranded for more than a week.
Roads remain inaccessible, and basic services have ground to a halt.
Community members say the situation has left elderly residents without food or access to medical care.
"We are in serious trouble. Our roads are closed, and Public Works is not even paying attention to us. Elderly people aren't eating because our roads are closed and they can’t reach shops.
"We are completely closed in; we can't get out at all. We are here to see if Public Works can help us. As it stands, government has given up on us," one resident said.
The same sentiments were echoed by a taxi operator, Gaolatlhe Raito, who said that since it started raining heavily, bridges are overflowing and roads are flooded.
"It's hard for us to transport residents to the nearest towns. The elderly in the Takaneng area are unable to receive our services. We’re only able to assist residents in Tamasikwa village, because there’s an alternative route we can take as taxi operators. But, those in Takaneng village are badly affected’’ Raito added.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged all residents to exercise caution following severe weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
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According to SAWS, a cut-off low-pressure system is expected to affect large parts of the country.
These conditions, which started on Monday, are expected to carry through to Thursday.
This slow-moving system, according to the weather service, is expected to bring cold, wet, and windy conditions, starting in the Western Cape before spreading to the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.
Impacts of the weather warning will also be witnessed in other parts of the central and eastern interior from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
Hlabisa said the department is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with emergency services and disaster management teams placed on high alert to respond to any incidents that may arise.