Torrential downpours and flooding have led to the deaths of at least 33 people, mostly along the eastern seaboard – from Kwa-Zulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape.
Alfred Nzo municipality on Tuesday said a 12-year-old girl had drowned in Lubhacweni village, KwaBhaca (Mount Frere) where bridges and roads had washed away.
There were 23 deaths in Durban; nine others died outside the city, with the figure set to rise said co-operative governance & traditional affairs spokesperson Senzo Mzila.
The death toll was expected to rise overnight on Tuesday with the deluge caused by a cut-off low pressure system only expected to move off on Wednesday.
Eastern Cape transport authorities warned of mudslides in the Kei Cuttings while in other areas, bridges were submerged and dangerous.
“PSJ and the greater Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts remain the hardest-hit areas,” said provincial transport MEC Weziwe Tikana on Tuesday.
“A mudslide has been reported on the busy R61 at Qhaka village towards Mthatha,” she said.
In Chatsworth‚ south of Durban‚ rescue workers recovered nine bodies on Tuesday after a mudslide destroyed the home of a caretaker at the Westcliff Secondary School.
One survivor was admitted to hospital.
Netcare 911’s Shawn Herbst said they had responded to reports of a structural collapse in the KwaNdengezi near Mariannridge‚ west of Durban‚ on Tuesday.
“The Netcare 911 specialised rescue unit was sent in.
“When the technician arrived on the scene he found that an entire house had been destroyed by a mudslide‚ leaving only mud and rubble visible.
“Together with the eThekwini fire and rescue services and NSRI a search for survivors was initiated.
“Tragically, during the search‚ the bodies of a seven-month-old child and a nine-year-old child were found.
“While paramedics were on scene they received multiple calls for assistance from residents in the area, pleading for help as the ground beneath their houses had washed away and the houses were about to collapse.
“When rescue personnel arrived on scene the houses had already collapsed.”
He said in total, eight houses had been completely destroyed by mudslides, killing six people...