Flooding across Mpumalanga and Limpopo has left a trail of devastation that has damaged homes, disrupted livelihoods, and shaken entire communities.
In Hoedspruit, the scale of the destruction was overwhelming, with roads washed away, homes and guest lodges flooded, and farms left damaged.
Even the Kruger National Park suffered extensive harm to its infrastructure, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the floods.
And yet, amid the wreckage, something remarkable happened.
People showed up for one another.
“Food was brought in, the gazebos were brought in by the public, by the farmers, by everybody, to ensure that the safety of the community was actually upheld,” said Thierry Boulanger from Hoedspruit Farm Watch.
“So everybody pulled in,” Boulanger said. “I do not think there were any people that were negative or selfish, and from a community perspective, I would not like to be in any other community.”
What makes this response especially striking is that many of those offering help were also dealing with serious damage to their own homes and farms.
“We must note that a lot of individuals had problems at their own houses, and they still managed with their own farms, and they still managed to pull together,” Boulanger said.
As soon as the rains stopped, a WhatsApp group of around 3,000 people sprang into action to coordinate cleanup efforts.
“I think a lot of people use the word Ubuntu loosely,” Boulanger said. “What we have found in the Hoedspruit area is exactly what the word Ubuntu means, and it means to work together.”
Nearly everyone in the area was affected by the floods, although some suffered far more damage than others.
“Nearly everyone was affected, some worse than others,” Boulanger said. “Some have a lot of damage to their homes or to their guest lodges.”
He added that the damage extended far beyond the town itself.
“We know, obviously on a bigger scale of things, that the Kruger National Park has suffered a huge amount of damage to their infrastructure,” Boulanger said.
For now, the community is not focused on fundraising.
Instead, residents are concentrating on cleaning up and helping one another through the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
In a moment defined by loss and disruption, the people of Hoedspruit chose solidarity.
We are inspired.
Are you?
