NELSPRUIT – With heavy rains still pouring in most areas of Mpumalanga, motorists and pedestrians are warned to avoid overflowing low lying bridges and river banks as they might be easy swept away.

Five workers contracted to Transnet narrowly survived as they escaped death when their truck was swept away whilst trying to cross the bridge at Schuilspruit dam in Amersfoort this morning, Thursday 16 February 2023 at about 08:00.

According to information, the five workers, one female and four males of which two were inside the truck and three on the truck's rooftop were rescued by the police and other stakeholders including Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department and other local based community structures. With such warning spreading like wild fire, people are still trying their luck and try to cross the bridge.

Immediately after the five were rescued, police and other stakeholders rendered assistance to a motorists from Rustenburg who also got stuck with his bakkie at about 12:45 this afternoon. He was saved.

Community members are once more reminded that flowing water applies pressure on contact points, the higher the speed, the more the pressure. Motorists just drive in without walking the terrain so to determine the pressure, police warn motorists and pedestrians that the best way to determine water pressure is not to take a risk at all and stay away.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has expressed her disappointment that after numerous warnings issued, people still gamble with their lives. "Important appointments can always be rescheduled rather than honouring them at the expense of your one precious life" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service