Durban - Two children drowned at Mphola in the Nongoma local municipality following heavy rain, the KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance and traditional affairs department said on Monday.
Spokesman Lennox Mabaso said the children, both aged seven, drowned as they tried to cross the Hlofu stream, which was overflowing on Sunday.
The gender of the children could not immediately be confirmed.
“Our thoughts are with the grieving relatives while our disaster management teams are hard at work on the ground to minimise the impact of these heavy downpours on the communities,” MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said.
“We are urging all families not to leave their children unattended as the effects of bad weather remain unpredictable, especially in our deep rural areas.”
Residents in low-lying areas were advised to take extra precautions and be ready to move away from river banks when necessary.
The public were asked to avoid crossing flooded rivers and overflowing low-water bridges.
“Such weather also brings the risks of rain-related road accidents and we urge motorists to be extra vigilant,” said Dube-Ncube.
Sapa