The provincial Department of Co-operative Governance says that as mop-up operations continue, two more bodies were recovered in KwaQoloqo in the Umzumbe area.

It is believed that the two men were swept away while trying to cross a flooded river earlier this week. This follows severe storms in several parts of the province in recent days, resulting in infrastructure collapses, mudslides, and flooded roads.

The hardest-hit areas were largely in the south of the Durban metro.

The department’s Spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, elaborates, “Disaster management teams continue to respond to the incident that occurred in KZN. The fatalities have increased with two fatalities recorded in the areas of KwaQoloqo under Umzumbe in Ugu district. It is believed that two men were swept away while trying to cross a flooded river in the area. This means that the death toll now stands at nine. The MEC for CoGTA in KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, will lead mop-up operations in affected areas, working with the eThekwini Metro.”

Meanwhile, a search and rescue mission was underway in Klerksdorp in the North West on Friday after an unconfirmed number of pedestrians were swept away by floodwaters.

According to eyewitnesses, the pedestrians were attempting to cross the Schoonspruit River when they got into trouble.

Houses and businesses in the town have been flooded following persistent rain in the area.

--SABC--