PUPILS in certain parts of Limpopo are not attending school while workers have also failed to report for work as rain that started pouring last week continues.

The heavy downpour in various parts of Limpopo, such as Venda and Giyani, continues to destroy mud houses, roads, bridges, electricity cables and water pipes.

One of the bridges, Dzindi, has given in, isolating Mapate and the main Lwamondo village outside Thohoyandou.

Pedestrians, pupils and workers who have always used the bridge were severely affected, while buses and taxis can also not drive across the river.

Patients are failing to access the clinics.

Vhutshilo Negota, 20, of Mapate, who is doing grade 11 at Makakavhale Secondary School in Lwamondo, said she would not risk her life by crossing the river.

"We have pleaded with community leaders to erect a makeshift bridge so we could cross the Dzindi River," Negota said. "Despite the rains, teachers are continuing with lessons in our absence.

"We are also pleading with Vhembe district municipality officials to visit our area to observe first-hand the damages caused by rain."

Two pensioners, Sophie Rasila and Phophi Tshikulumela, also decried the collapse of the bridge.

"This is bad ... and it seems as if we are going to experience what we saw in 2000, when thousands of people lost their houses. Some families also lost their loved ones. We can't manage to cross this bridge," Rasila said.

Vhembe district municipality spokesman Matodzi Ralushai said four municipalities under Vhembe were the most affected.

Ralushai said other areas had no water as pipes were washed away. He said preliminary reports showed that more than 100 families were left homeless, while some roads were washed away.

"Though it is still raining, we are working hand-in- hand with various stakeholders like the SA National Defence Force to evacuate families living on river banks.

"We are also pleading with motorists not to cross flooded rivers."

- mushianae@sowetan.co.za