Three dead in Eastern Cape flooding

Three people died when a rondavel collapsed during a flood in Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape, the province's health department said on Sunday.

"It happened in the village of Mayalulweni [overnight]. Three family members died," said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

"Two others were taken to a nearby hospital with a private bakkie as rescue workers were unable to get to the area because of the overflowing rivers." The dead and injured were all adults, he said.

Local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane was trying to get to the scene on Sunday.

Kupelo said a family was left homeless when their house collapsed in Mkhamkatho village. No one was injured.

He said the Malizo Mpehle Memorial Hospital was operating on a skeleton staff on Sunday with people were unable to get to work because of the overflowing river which separates it from the town and other villages.

Qoboshiyane's department reported earlier that cars were submerged and scores of people were evacuated during floods in Port St Johns overnight.

The residents were evacuated to the local town hall, where they were given blankets and meals, said spokesman Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha.

He said some residents had refused to leave their homes, and that Qoboshiyane had appealed to all residents to co-operate.

The department said parts of the R61 between Port St Johns and Lusikisiki had been partially closed following a landslide. Traffic officers were on the scene.

The authorities were also removing a tree which had fallen across another road.

In Soweto, water levels had dropped on Sunday, and there had been no more flood-related emergencies, said Johannesburg emergency services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi.

On Saturday, 136 people were left homeless when their shacks were destroyed by floods. They were taken to the Khayalethu care centre. No one was injured, he said at the time.

Several motorists and passengers had to be rescued when they were trapped on flooded roads in Soweto.

In Diepkloof, two houses were struck by lightning but no one was injured.

Elsewhere in Johannesburg, flooding was reported on the M2 highway.

The SA Weather Service has indicated that the rain and cold weather will last throughout the weekend.