Authorities in KZN and the North West have warned residents to stay cautious around large masses of water and flooded areas.

The warning follows a number of drowning incidents in the provinces this week.

In KZN, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sihle Zikalala urged residents to be safe following two separate drowning incidents in the Nongoma Local Municipality.

According to a statement released by Zikalala, two learners from Bombolo Primary School drowned in the Msunduzi River on Tuesday afternoon.

Reports received by the department indicate that the two learners, aged 11 and 12, were swimming in the river after school.

On the same day, a 21-year-old male drowned while trying to cross the eMona River.

Zikalala called on communities to be cautious around large bodies of water, saying that parents and teachers must warn children about the dangers of swimming in rivers and undesignated areas.

“We continue to work closely with all disaster management teams to ensure that adequate measures are taken to warn communities about the dangers of large bodies of water, especially with spring in full swing,” said Zikalala.

Meanwhile, in the North West, the body of a man was retrieved from the Crocodile River near Brits on Friday morning.

Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh told Kormorant that the retrieval of the man’s body followed the retrieval of another body on Wednesday.

“A body was spotted by a drone on Tuesday. It was caught in what we presume is reeds and due to the strong current and crocodiles swarming in the river, police divers were unable to reach it on Tuesday night,” Myburgh explained and said the body was finally recovered on Wednesday.

Emergency services in the province have been on standby following the recent two weeks’ heavy rainfall and urgent warnings are issued to residents close to rivers and dams to stay clear of the flooding rivers and low-water bridges.

The Department of Water and Sanitation said the Hartbeespoort Dam is overflowing and urged people who live downstream to be cautious as the water levels continue to rise.

The NRSI Hartbeespoort said it has already been called to several cases where vehicles have been washed off low-water bridges.

“We urge people to avoid bodies of water during the floods. Avoid low-water bridges, many motorists misjudge the depth of water. Keep close watch over children who live near rivers and dams,” said Arthur Crewe of the NSRI Hartbeespoort.