Staff Reporter.
Tshwane emergency services say there have been multiple incidents of flooding reported in and around the capital city.
The areas most affected include large parts of Centurion and parts of Mamelodi.
Spokesperson Charles Mabaso says emergency teams are on the ground to conduct assessments and determine the extent of the damage.
“There have been multiple incidents of flooding that have been reported around the Tshwane area.” said Mabaso.
“Our teams are on the ground, the Tshwane disaster operation centre has been activated at level three, assessments are underway, and a full picture of the situation on the ground will be shared as soon as the information has been consolidated from various teams on the ground.”
In Ekurhuleni, the fire and emergency services rescued four occupants of a Sedan that was flooded on Old Pretoria road.
Ekurhuleni emergency services’ William Ntladi says a search is underway for another three people that have been reported missing.
“All four occupants survived the drowning without injuries,” he said.
He adds that a search is still underway on Midstream Ridge drive for two women and their Uber driver who were swept away by floodwaters.
“SAPS’ water wing and rescuers from Olifantsfontein fire station are busy conducting a search … The vehicle can be seen from a distance inside the river” added Ntladi.
Meanwhile a Range Rover was amongst the vehicles that have been swept away by floods reported on the R30 road between Allanridge and Bothaville in the Free State.
Provincial police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng says in addition to an Intercape bus liner being trapped in the area on Saturday morning, a truck, sedan, and Range Rover were reportedly caught by the flooding on the roads of late.
Thakeng said there are warning signs on the dangers of this part of the road, but it appears there are some drivers not taking heed of said signs.
He urges motorists to make use of alternative routes.
He confirms that all passengers in the Intercape bus liner – overall 86 passengers which included children – have been rescued and no injuries have been reported.
The Intercape bus was believed to heve been en route to Pretoria, Gauteng from Umtata in the Eastern Cape when the incident occurred.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow level 2 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to localised flooding for large parts of the country on Saturday, as well as an Orange level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding along the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape and the north coast and its adjacent interior of KwaZulu-Natal.