Motorists swept to death by floodwaters
The body of Daisy Rapholo was recovered on Wednesday December 8.
She was driving a Renault Kwid and was swept downstream as she attempted to drive over the bridge near Thorncliff Mine (R577) on Tuesday December 7 at about 13:30.
The driver of a Toyota Quantum, Godfrey Moraba (30), was still missing at the time going to press. The Kwid and Quantum were later recovered on the riverbank on Tuesday afternoon. A photo of the Quantum and videos of the flood did the rounds on social media, depicting how badly it had been damaged.
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At the time going to press, the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Limpopo and Burgersfort SAPS, the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, SAPS Diving Unit and other search-and-rescue units were still searching for Moraba.
The Limpopo police are still investigating reports of other possible missing residents that could have been swept away. Moraba’s father, Khuba Moraba (52), said he saw a video of his son being swept away in the family’s Quantum on Tuesday.
Khuba said he could not believe his taxi was swept away. Apparently, his son was on his way to Lydenburg to fetch the last passengers of the day.
“The vehicles were swept downstream and discovered on a riverbank. Search-and-rescue operations are still continuing,” said Basikopo Makamu, the Limpopo MEC for cooperative governance and human settlements.
Makamu said psychosocial support had been offered to all the families concerned. The Steelpoort and Burgersfort area had recorded heavy rainfall for the three days leading up to the flood.
“We are advising motorists not to attempt crossing low-lying bridges and flooded roads,” said Mike Maringa, the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety’s spokesperson.
The South African Weather Service released a level-six warning of disruptive rain in the central and eastern parts of Limpopo, as well as the eastern and northern parts of Mpumalanga.
