TSHWANE – At least one person has drowned after heavy rain left a string of informal settlements flooded in Mamelodi on Saturday.

The community of Soul City discovered and recovered the body of a man on Saturday afternoon, as flood water started letting up.

The man cannot be identified yet, as his family has yet to be notified.

Also read: Massive rain throughout Friday night brings strife across Pretoria

Neighbour and friend Bongi Sesi Mahlangu said the man died while trying to recover his belongings from his flooded home.

“We were with him the whole night. He then left us in the morning to go and check his home. He told us he wanted to get some stuff and his card from his house,” she said.

“We have been looking for him without any luck since then. Around 13:00, a community member saw someone’s hands floating in the water as it started to subside.

“His brother with the help of the community members recovered his body.”

Also read: Tshwane floods: Rescue efforts underway as people stranded in cars and rooftops

#TshwaneFloods Residents on the rooftops of buildings as floods ravage the Tshwane area. Photo: @tshwane_mayor #Flooding #Tshwane pic.twitter.com/AF52rw1nYk

— 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ‎بفضل من الله (@FaizelPatel143) February 5, 2022

Mahlangu said the discovery of the deceased was a heartbreaking tragedy left behind by the heavy rains.

“We have been with him for years and we all survived the past floods.

“We were even with him the whole night only to lose him to the floods in the morning.”

Mahlangu described the deceased as kind and caring.

“He was like a brother to me, he was like an uncle to my children.

“As the community of Soul City, we are saddened by his passing.”

Mahlangu said the flooded communities had one wish: “We just want to be moved, we are losing people, we are suffering here.”

Neighbour Rufus Naka said the deceased arrived at his house around 12pm and told him that he wanted to get his card and blankets from his house.

“He left his T-shirt at my house and went to his home. I never saw him again. He disappeared into the deep waters,” he said.

“We tried looking for him but all I saw were blankets and glimpses of his hand floating in the murky water.

“This is painful for us to witness.”

Naka said he felt helpless.

“The rain damaged everything. I don’t have a bed to sleep on tonight. We did not sleep the whole night and now we are trying to recover

whatever is left.”

The Gauteng emergency services paramedics were on the scene and confirmed the man deceased.

#Update Please take note there is significant flooding in various parts of the City after the heavy rain.

The City’s Disaster Management Centre has been activated to coordinate rescue, evacuation, transportation, accommodation and relief efforts. #Flooding pic.twitter.com/YkH4BguQX6

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) February 5, 2022