South Africa sends rescue team after politician is swept away by floodwaters

South Africa has sent a team to help with rescue efforts after a local politician was swept away by floodwaters while visiting neighbouring Mozambique.

Andile Mngwevu, a councillor in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, and four others were in Mozambique’s Gaza province when their car was caught in a flood, officials say.

Only one of the passengers has been accounted for – the “status and whereabouts of the other occupants remain unconfirmed”, the municipality said in a statement.

Flooding has devastated parts of both countries and resulted in Mozambican President Daniel Chapo cancelling his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

His South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, confirmed that two helicopters had been deployed to help Mozambique “for a number of days until their situation subsides”.

Weeks of flooding in Mozambique have damaged infrastructure and killed more than 100 people. According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, 400,000 people have been affected.

In South Africa, more than 30 people have died in just two provinces since November, according to the government.

Mozambique has declared a red alert in the wake of the devastating floods while South Africa has announced a national disaster.

The rainy season has begun in central and northern Mozambique, with further heavy rain forecast across large parts of the country, which is entering its annual cyclone season.