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17 February 2023
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Tshwane Emergency Services respond to multiple incidents of flooding, Pretoria
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A family of three narrowly escaped drowning when the SUV they were driving was washed off a low-water bridge in End Avenue in Centurion. The incident was reported to the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department at approximately 17h45 on Monday, 13 February 2023. Charles Mabaso, deputy chief: public information and liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The Emergency Services Department was dispatched to the incident. Upon arrival, they found a white SUV that had been washed away into the Hennops River.”
“The End Avenue Bridge was closed off to traffic with physical barriers and barrier tape at around midday on 13 February 2023 following the persistent rain being experienced in parts of Tshwane and some parts of South Africa. The occupants of the vehicle could not be found at the scene or inside the vehicle. It was assumed that they had been swept away by the river until members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) made contact with the owner after identifying the registered owner of the vehicle”, said Mabaso.
He added, “The owner, a male of an unconfirmed age, confirmed that he and his teenage boy and girl managed to swim to safety after the vehicle was washed off the low-water bridge into the river. A member of the public alleges that the driver of the SUV drove around the barricades used to close the road before it was washed away.”
This has been the second incident in the same area in less than two days. An Isuzu bakkie, which has still not been recovered from the Hennops River, was washed away on Saturday, 11 February 2023. “Under the command of the SAPS K9 and Diving Unit and subject to safe conditions, the Emergency Services Department will resume the search for about five people who were reported to the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services as being swept away at a stream in Olievenhoutbosch on Saturday”, said Mabaso.
“Persistent rain has led to flooding of informal settlements in parts of Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Cullinan. Multiple roads in the southern, eastern and western parts of Tshwane experienced some flooding, which led to traffic disruptions on the morning of Monday, 13 February 2023.”
Apies River sweeps away another man and multiple roads flooded in Centurion as rain continues to fall in parts of Tshwane
Mabaso said that the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a call on Thursday, 9 February 2023, when it was reported that a man was swept away by the Apies River near the Pretoria Zoological Gardens at approximately 13h30. This was the second incident in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo in a period of less than a week.
“The search for the man was called off in the evening because of poor visibility and high and fast-flowing waters. The search continued the following day under the command of the South African Police Service (SAPS) K9 and Diving Unit.”
The Hennops River in Centurion burst its banks, leading to flooding and the closure of multiple roads before two cars were stuck on Blackwood and Lyttelton Road. The occupants of both vehicles evacuated safely. Rabie Street, End Avenue and Blackwood Road were closed at the time of the release of this statement and the water levels in Blackwood Road were dropping but still high.
Body of a man recovered in Pretoria North a day after he was swept away by the Apies River
“On Saturday, 4 February 2023, the City of Tshwane Emergency Service Department received a call at approximately 16h50 that reported that three men had been swept away by the Apies River near the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo) after the rain and storms that were experienced the day before. Personnel from Bosman Fire Station and Innesdale Fire Station were despatched to the incident”, continued Mabaso.
“Upon arrival at the incident, two males reported that they had been swept away by the river the previous day and had managed escape, while the third male could not escape. While by searching for the third male, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Diving Unit assisted with recovering the body of a man that was spotted floating in the Apies River under a bridge on the K8 (Rosslyn Road). The personnel from Innesdale Fire Station were then diverted to the K8 bridge”, he reported.
Mabaso added, “Rescue technicians from the City of Tshwane worked with the SAPS Diving Unit to recover the body from the river. A description of the recovered body was shared with the fire fighters who were still at the scene with the other two men near the Pretoria Zoo. The men confirmed that the recovered body was that of their friend who had been swept away the previous day.”
Source: Charles Mabaso, deputy chief: public information and liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
“The End Avenue Bridge was closed off to traffic with physical barriers and barrier tape at around midday on 13 February 2023 following the persistent rain being experienced in parts of Tshwane and some parts of South Africa. The occupants of the vehicle could not be found at the scene or inside the vehicle. It was assumed that they had been swept away by the river until members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) made contact with the owner after identifying the registered owner of the vehicle”, said Mabaso.
He added, “The owner, a male of an unconfirmed age, confirmed that he and his teenage boy and girl managed to swim to safety after the vehicle was washed off the low-water bridge into the river. A member of the public alleges that the driver of the SUV drove around the barricades used to close the road before it was washed away.”
This has been the second incident in the same area in less than two days. An Isuzu bakkie, which has still not been recovered from the Hennops River, was washed away on Saturday, 11 February 2023. “Under the command of the SAPS K9 and Diving Unit and subject to safe conditions, the Emergency Services Department will resume the search for about five people who were reported to the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services as being swept away at a stream in Olievenhoutbosch on Saturday”, said Mabaso.
“Persistent rain has led to flooding of informal settlements in parts of Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Cullinan. Multiple roads in the southern, eastern and western parts of Tshwane experienced some flooding, which led to traffic disruptions on the morning of Monday, 13 February 2023.”
Apies River sweeps away another man and multiple roads flooded in Centurion as rain continues to fall in parts of Tshwane
Mabaso said that the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a call on Thursday, 9 February 2023, when it was reported that a man was swept away by the Apies River near the Pretoria Zoological Gardens at approximately 13h30. This was the second incident in the vicinity of the Pretoria Zoo in a period of less than a week.
“The search for the man was called off in the evening because of poor visibility and high and fast-flowing waters. The search continued the following day under the command of the South African Police Service (SAPS) K9 and Diving Unit.”
The Hennops River in Centurion burst its banks, leading to flooding and the closure of multiple roads before two cars were stuck on Blackwood and Lyttelton Road. The occupants of both vehicles evacuated safely. Rabie Street, End Avenue and Blackwood Road were closed at the time of the release of this statement and the water levels in Blackwood Road were dropping but still high.
Body of a man recovered in Pretoria North a day after he was swept away by the Apies River
“On Saturday, 4 February 2023, the City of Tshwane Emergency Service Department received a call at approximately 16h50 that reported that three men had been swept away by the Apies River near the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria Zoo) after the rain and storms that were experienced the day before. Personnel from Bosman Fire Station and Innesdale Fire Station were despatched to the incident”, continued Mabaso.
“Upon arrival at the incident, two males reported that they had been swept away by the river the previous day and had managed escape, while the third male could not escape. While by searching for the third male, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Diving Unit assisted with recovering the body of a man that was spotted floating in the Apies River under a bridge on the K8 (Rosslyn Road). The personnel from Innesdale Fire Station were then diverted to the K8 bridge”, he reported.
Mabaso added, “Rescue technicians from the City of Tshwane worked with the SAPS Diving Unit to recover the body from the river. A description of the recovered body was shared with the fire fighters who were still at the scene with the other two men near the Pretoria Zoo. The men confirmed that the recovered body was that of their friend who had been swept away the previous day.”
Source: Charles Mabaso, deputy chief: public information and liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
