The number of people who lost their lives in KwaZulu Natal floods caused by heavy rains since last weekend has risen to 16. Four more people have been reported as missing.

On Monday, the search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of a couple that was swept away on Saturday in the Tongaat area, north of Durban. The couple is said to have been swept away by the local river while seated in the car on Saturday night. Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Pram Belram said: "Heavy rains experienced on Saturday night caused flash floods and rivers to burst their banks throughout the KZN North Coast. As communities take stock of the damage, four people have been reported as missing by their families. Two people have gone missing from their home in Tongaat and a further two went missing while attempting to cross rivers in Groutville and Maphumulo. Umhlali SAPS K9 Search & Rescue and IPSS Search & Rescue will be responding to the various areas, however as the rivers remain at dangerous levels, this will hamper efforts by rescuers."

Meanwhile, KZN Cooperative Governance (COGTA) MEC for Traditional Affairs Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi visited the areas that were badly affected in Bergville on Tuesday. This comes after two bodies, a couple, were recovered on Monday after they were swept away in a car in December. "The Hlongwane family was reported missing after they left Bergville for Vryheid on the 31st of December 2023. The wreckage of their vehicle and the deceased bodies were recovered over the weekend," she said. COGTA spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi said though the information they have is still sketchy, its believed that the couple were swept away while seated in the car. "They were found inside the car and they were identified through their car," he said.