South Africa - 2 dead, 4 missing and over 1,000 displaced after floods in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (UPDATE)

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Sun, 06 Feb 2022 10:44 UTC

© City of Tshwane

Flood in Tshwane, South Africa, February 2022.

At least 3 people are missing and dozens have evacuated their homes after severe flooding in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces in South Africa.

Gauteng Province

Heavy rainfall overnight, 04 to 05 February 2022, caused flooding in several parts of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni municipalities in Gauteng Province, including Mamelodi, Centurion and Olifantsfontein.

Tshwane's Disaster Management Centre was activated to coordinate rescue, evacuation, transportation, accommodation and relief efforts early on 05 February. The city government warned people to take necessary precautions when driving or walking near flood waters, and urged residents living next to rivers and streams to evacuate to a safer place. Emergency crews were deployed to carry out rescues and evacuations. Buses were brought in to transport evacuees. Some people took refuge on the roofs of buildings to avoid the flooding. As of 06 February there was no confirmed number of displacements.

Meanwhile Disaster and Emergency Services in Ekurhuleni municipality report that teams are currently searching for three people who went missing after heavy rains in Midstream near Olifantsfontein. Two vehicles were swept off a bridge early 05 February. Four people were rescued from one of the vehicles. Emergency Services are still searching for three people from the second vehicle.

© City of Tshwane

Flood in Tshwane, South Africa, February 2022.

© City of Tshwane

Flood in Tshwane, South Africa, February 2022.

KwaZulu-Natal Province

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province Disaster Management said 138 people were left homeless after severe flooding in eMadlangeni and Greater Kokstad local municipalities on 04 February 2022. The provincial government is providing relief supplies to the victims. KZN Disaster Management said there has been no report of any loss of life as a result of these incidents.

Parts of KZN saw severe flooding in late January this year.

Comment: Update: News24 reports on February 8:

Two people dead, 4 missing and more than 1 000 displaced by flooding in Tshwane metro

Two people died and more than 1 000 were displaced during heavy rain and flooding in the Tshwane metro over the last four days.

The body of a man was found on Sunday after a bakkie was washed away in the Centurion area on Friday night. A second body was found at the Soul City informal settlement in Mamelodi after a man "drowned in his shack", said Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Charles Mabaso.

Tshwane metro rescue teams in Bosplaas, Hamanskraal.

Emergency workers were still searching for three people - believed to be the driver of an Uber taxi and two passengers - who were washed away by the Olifantspruit in Midstream. The search was also continuing for a man in a boat who was washed over the Roodeplaat Dam wall over the weekend.

Rescue operations carried out by a multidisciplinary team saw 27 people rescued from vehicles trapped on flooded roads, low-water crossings and from the tops of trees.

More than 1 000 people were displaced by flooding. Temporary shelters were erected in Mamelodi, Hammanskraal and Pretoria West and relief parcels distributed to those affected.

Mop-up operations commenced in Centurion and Mamelodi, added Mabaso.

"We call on residents to remain on high alert, to never try to cross flooded low bridges, to move themselves and valuables to higher ground if under threat of flooding, and to immediately call for help by dialling our toll-free emergency number 107," he said.