LIMPOPO – Four bodies have been recovered after a vehicle was swept away at an overflowing bridge between Makotopong and Madiga villages, a few kilometres outside Mankweng on Monday.

The incident occurred following heavy rainfall across the province over the weekend.

It was reported that five occupants were travelling along a gravel road between Madiga and Makotopong in the early hours of Sunday when their vehicle overturned at the flooded bridge and was swept into the river.

According to reports, one occupant managed to escape from the vehicle and alerted police and emergency services.

The provincial search and rescue team responded to the scene and began recovery operations on Sunday, during which they discovered the body of Petrus Mochitele (27) from Madiga village.

The search continued on Monday when the police’s water wing unit, assisted by EMS search and rescue teams and a helicopter, located the submerged vehicle and recovered three additional bodies.

The deceased were identified as Seobi Dikgale (33), Betty Makokoane (22) and Shellote Dikgale (30), all from Madiga village.

Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe praised the multi-disciplinary team for their efforts in recovering all four bodies during the two-day search operation.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families,” she said.