Gift of the Givers says some community members in the Eastern Cape have not registered a missing persons case with the South African police, which makes it very difficult and complicated as the official number of people that are missing is incorrect.

Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay says the police captain and colonel have informed them that they will be working with leaders and counselors to liaise with community members for critical information while their search and recovery teams are on the ground.

[WATCH]
It’s been almost 3 weeks since the deadly Eastern Cape floods wreaked havoc on the lives of people in Mthatha. Humanitarian Aid Gift of The Givers and the police are still searching for missing persons. pic.twitter.com/sU2YQ5MDZ5

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 21, 2025

“Our teams know which areas to sweep although the area is quite vast. The Umtata River stretches for kilometers and our teams have been all over. We have broken up into different groups now as well, in terms of getting closure and bringing those loved ones back to their families,” says Sablay.

Sablay says they had to get in additional tractor loader backhoes (TLB) as the mud has turned quite hard and the next few days will be critical.

“The authorities have to decide whether or not they will carry on with a certain recovery unit as they sweep the whole area in search of these bodies.”

Meanwhile, the first funeral of the Eastern Cape flood victims is taking place at Makhaula Village near Mount Frere.

The victims that will be buried are a mother and her 16-year-old son, who lost their lives during the devastating floods in Mthatha.