Mbombela - Residents of Nsikazi outside Mbombela, Mpumalanga, were left without tap water this weekend after the raw water pumps along the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers were flooded during heavy rains.
Mbombela municipal spokesperson Bessie Pienaar said the KaNyamazane Water Treatment Plant and Nyongane Water Plant had to be shut down.
"Provisional water supply will be done through water tinkering systems," she said.
Until full water supply is restored, Pienaar has urged communities to use their water sparingly.
Affected areas are KaNyamazane, Thekwane South, Thekwane North, Pienaar, Daantjie, Luphisi, Zwelisha, Newskom, Clau-Clau, Kabokweni, Dwaleni, Mbonisweni, Gutshwa, Bhuga, Khumbula, Malekutu, Mgcobaneni, Mganduzweni, MaFifty, Swalala, Chochocho, Phola, Majika, Mahushu, Shabalala, Nyongane, Jerusalema, Mshadza Salubindza
Residents have also been urged to report any other incidents caused by the floods to 013 759 2129 or 013 753 3331.
The floods, caused by Cyclone Dando when it moved inland from the coast of Mozambique, struck the hardest in Mpumalanga's Nkomazi area south of Malalane, Hoedspruit in Limpopo, and the Kruger National Park.
In Hoedspruit, more than 350 people had to be evacuated or airlifted during the week, including 53 children who had to be airlifted from schools. In Mpumalanga, 14 Nkomazi families had to be relocated while about 40 homes were damaged.
Food parcels have been arranged for the affected families.
Most Nkomazi schools were unable to open for the first week of the new school year and roads and bridges were badly damaged.
The Kruger National Park and private game reserves were also hard-hit. By Sunday, the Kruger was able to open all its entrance gates again, except for the Lower Sabie Causeway where water continued to flow over the wall.
