A school minibus carrying 13 learners was recovered after being swept away by raging floodwaters in Dikolini, Eastern Cape, where ongoing rescue operations are searching for at least 10 people still missing following the collapse of the Efeta bridge.

The 22-seater vehicle was transporting 13 learners from Jumba Senior Secondary School, along with two adult passengers and the driver, when it was swept away by floodwaters on Monday morning.

According to a SABC reporter on the scene, the driver had contacted the vehicle owner moments before the incident to report that the bridge near Efata School for the Blind and Deaf was overflowing and unsafe to cross. Shortly after, the bridge gave way.

“Rescue operators couldn’t go inside the taxi immediately due to the high-water levels,” a SABC reporter said.

“They waited for the water to subside. By the afternoon, only the roof of the taxi was visible, and by around 5pm, the windows could also be seen. When they finally got inside, there were no learners.”

[WATCH]
The minibus taxi that was swept by the floods carrying learners in De Colligny in the Eastern Cape has been recovered. 3 people were found and 10 are still missing. Fundiswa Mhlekude reports. pic.twitter.com/iovlKilmyl

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 11, 2025

The OR Tambo District Mayor confirmed that nine bodies have so far been recovered from the scene.

Search efforts remain under way, with at least ten people still unaccounted for. Divers are also searching houses nearby where residents reportedly became trapped as floodwaters rose rapidly, with screams heard from within some homes.

The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of concern and grief, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.

The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has called on authorities to act swiftly in assisting families affected by the floods and ensuring the safety of vulnerable communities in the province.

“The committee sends its sincere condolences to the families of those who died in the floods,” said Chairperson Nqabisa Gantsho.

“Provincial government in the Eastern Cape needs to move in and assist in every way possible, particularly those who are without homes due to the floods.”

Gantsho said the recent storm damage underscores the long-term threat posed by climate change and urged the government to develop better strategies for flood and drought mitigation.

“Flooding is going to be a common occurrence longer into the future, for so long as climate change is with us,” she warned.

She also stressed that authorities must accurately quantify the number of people affected and deliver aid according to their needs.

“Flood victims should not be accommodated longer than is necessary in temporary arrangements,” she added.

Gantsho urged residents to avoid settling in low-lying areas prone to flooding and called for additional protection for children who walk to school.

“The Eastern Cape provincial government must ensure that school-going children, especially those who walk to school, are protected from dangerous weather conditions,” she said.

“Families must report missing relatives to the relevant authorities especially if there has been no contact for longer than three hours at least.”

Dikolini, located in the Mtata West region along the R61, is one of the worst-hit areas following two intense cold fronts that brought widespread flooding to the Eastern Cape over the weekend. Rescue operations remain in progress.

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