Search Continues for One Person Lost in KwaZulu-Natal Flooding Disaster, Two Bodies Recovered

• Three people went missing after the vehicle they were travelling in was washed away on Longacres Drive in Amanzimtoti
• Authorities continue to search for one individual after heavy rain lashed the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 21 December 2025
• A severe storm hit parts of the south coast and inland areas, causing flooded roads and waterlogged shopping centres

Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.

One person remains missing after the vehicle they were travelling in was swept away on Longacres Drive in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, on Sunday night, 21 December 2025.

Heavy rain battered KwaZulu-Natal

The search continues as heavy rain battered KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast, leaving widespread disruption in its wake. The storms affected both coastal and inland areas, flooding roads and shopping centres. Margate was among the hardest-hit towns, with social media footage showing parts of the Shelley Centre in Shelly Beach submerged under water.

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By Sunday afternoon, 21 December, several roads in and around Margate were reported to be underwater, according to messages and videos circulating in local community groups.

Empangeni also recorded heavy rainfall and flooding, impacting roads and local infrastructure. Authorities have issued warnings across most parts of the province. An orange level 5 alert remains in effect for disruptive rain, indicating the potential for flooding of roads, settlements, low-lying bridges, and other vulnerable areas. A yellow level 4 warning has been issued for heavy downpours, while a separate yellow level 4 alert for severe thunderstorms warns of lightning, strong winds, and small hail in populated areas.

How does the South Coast community respond to natural disasters?

Brendan Cluley of PrivateGuy - South Coast Living & Lifestyle told Briefly News that while the rains battered the Lower South Coast, the community quickly jumped into action to clear the beaches of debris.

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"The South Coast community is something else. Whenever we're hit by heavy natural distasters, the community and local organisations never shy away from jumping in to action to clear the beaches and surrounding areas of debris.

"I'm proud to call this place home."

Cluley, who grew up on the South Coast and still lives there, said the South Coast is open to visitors. In a recent post on Facebook, he urged South Africans to donate to the many coastal community organisations:

Stephen Herbst of Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate also posted on Facebook that beaches such as Lucien, Uvongo and St Michael's are on the mend.

"St Mikes Beach open, and ready for tourists and locals, this what a community does to keep going, we don’t let a little rain and storm get us down. We fight like true South Africans, today we have the bomb squad down at St Mikes," he posted on Facebook.

KZN Premier Ntuli visited the affected regions

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli visited the affected regions on Monday, 22 December 2025, to assess the damage and coordinate response efforts. Ntuli visited the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality to assess storm damage and offer support to affected families. He also commended emergency services personnel for working tirelessly to locate and rescue the missing individuals.

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Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli noted that the floods have caused significant damage to both properties and businesses, many of which are being affected for a second time. He highlighted that municipalities had previously completed disaster management repairs, but these efforts will now need to be repeated. Ntuli said the government plans to assess the full extent of the damage and implement measures to reduce the risk of future flooding.

Tshwane experiences severe thunderstorms

In other news, Briefly News reported on the weekend that parts of Tshwane experienced significant disruption after severe thunderstorms swept through the area. Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said that several areas across the city reported flooding that affected roads and homes. City emergency services confirmed responding to numerous weather-related emergency calls.

Source: Briefly News