A devastating flood in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, has claimed at least nine lives after a school transport bus was swept away on Tuesday morning.
Mthatha floods claim eight lives: Here’s the latest
The extreme winter weather brought heavy rain, melting snow, and strong winds, causing rivers to overflow and flooding roads and infrastructure.
In Decoligny Village, community members discovered the bodies of three schoolchildren in uniform, and a total of eight bodies have been recovered there.
Another victim was found near Tsolo, close to the Bedlana River. These tragic findings come after a “22-seater scholar transport bus” was carried away when the Efata Bridge collapsed under floodwaters while transporting learners to Jumba Senior Secondary School .
The Eastern Cape provincial government confirmed that nine people have died amid the flooding .
Three children who survived clung to trees and were rescued.
According to SANTACO, the bus belonged to one of its members . The driver reportedly called for help when the vehicle became stuck, but by the time rescuers arrived, the collapsed bridge and raging waters had swept the bus away .
Eastern Cape spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said rescue teams are returning to the scene, including divers, to continue searching for the missing passengers.
She emphasised that the search is focused first on learners and then on others unaccounted for .
Rantjie noted that hundreds of residents have been displaced by the floods, and government teams are working to support those whose homes have been damaged or submerged .
The disaster has also affected wider regions of the Eastern Cape. Heavy rain, wind, and snowfall have damaged roads and bridges and caused widespread power outages, adding to the difficulties facing rescue and repair missions .
In a different incident, five people died in a minibus taxi crash on the N2 outside East London, also blamed on poor weather and slippery roads .
SANTACO spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Phala said the exact number of learners on board the school bus is still unclear, as varied school timetables during exam time mean attendance numbers fluctuate .
She also described how survivors clung to trees during the ordeal .
As rescue efforts continue, authorities warn commuters to avoid flood-prone roads, especially near damaged bridges.
Rantjie explained that Premier Oscar Mabuyane and other leaders will inspect the affected areas to assess the full extent of damage and help plan further assistance .
