President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed condolences to families that lost loved ones when heavy rains battered parts of the Eastern Cape at the weekend.
The floods mostly affected Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, and Kariega.
In a statement on Monday, Ramaphosa said his thoughts were also with the families of missing people.
He said: “All of us South Africans feel saddened by the loss of life, the destruction of public infrastructure, and the loss of personal property.”
“The aftermath of these occurrences is best overcome when we work together in the way we are seeing in the Eastern Cape.”
He said this after law-enforcement agencies advised motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving on the province’s wet roads.
Police officer killed
The heavy rains left at least 10 people dead, including a police constable from the anti-gang unit in Gqeberha.
An eyewitness stated that the driver of the state vehicle lost control and rolled against the embankment before landing on its roof.
The constable died on the spot, prompting the opening of a culpable homicide investigation.
The provincial police commissioner, General Nomthetheleli Mene, said the 39-year-old constable was a passenger when the vehicle overturned due to bad weather conditions.
“It is alleged that constable Elroy May was a passenger in the police vehicle when their vehicle overturned due to bad weather conditions. The tarmac was very wet, and the rain was pelting,” said Mene.
She expressed her sadness about the death of a police officer.
“Over the past few days, heavy rains and flooding have caused significant disruptions and damage across multiple areas.
“We, the SAPS [SA Police Service], extend our heartfelt condolences to the officer’s family, friends, and colleagues,” said Mene.
She urged residents not to drive through flooded areas, saying the depth and strength of the water can be deceptive and potentially life-threatening.
Avoid travelling unless necessary
“The safety of our community is our top priority. We are working tirelessly with disaster management at the municipalities to monitor the situation and help where needed.
“If you must travel, please be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If possible, please stay home and avoid travelling unless necessary.
“The roads in many areas are flooded and washed away, thus posing a significant danger to drivers.”
The transport department in the province said the deceased lost their lives in four separate crashes since Friday.
“Sunday proved to be the worst day as persistent rains, wet and slippery conditions, and poor visibility in some areas, wreaked havoc on the roads,” said Unathi Binqose, the spokesperson for the department.
“Two separate crashes accounted for six lives. Motorists are urged to remain vigilant as persistent rains continue to hit most parts of the province.”
