“Papa, I’m stuck in water and the taxi is now rolling.”
These were the haunting words Khupa Morapa last heard from his son, a taxi driver, who is one of four people who are feared dead after three vehicles were swept away by flash floods on Tuesday.
The incident happened in Limpopo as Morapa’s taxi, driven by his son Godfrey, 30, and another vehicle attempted to cross a flooded bridge between Steelpoort and Lydenburg on the R577.
According to the Limpopo co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs (Cogta) spokesperson Hitekani Magwedze, the third vehicle had three passengers who are still missing.
The vehicles were washed away around 4pm on Tuesday and the taxi, a Toyota Quantum, was recovered in the evening while a Renault Kwid was found on Wednesday morning. The body of Daisy Rapholo was discovered on Wednesday afternoon while Godfrey is still missing.
Morapa told Sowetan that his frantic son had called him as the taxi was being swept away.
“It was in the afternoon when my son phoned me. He told me he is stuck on the bridge and that it was flooded with water and stones. His last words to me were ‘Papa the taxi is now rolling’. His phone went dead,” said Morapa.
He said his son, who normally drove long distances, was on his way to fetch staff members from Boysendal Platinum Mine.
“I’m not feeling well about what happened. I can’t even eat because I’m stressing. They must send extra divers. I have a feeling that he is still alive, wherever he is. I have strength. We started looking for him since this morning,” said the emotional father as he looked on the search by divers. George has a three-year-old child.
On Wednesday, the rescue team, which included a K-9 unit, found a navy-blue hoodie believed to belong to Rapholo, 30, whose body was later discovered lying on the river bank. She is believed to be from Lekhureng Ga-Matlala outside Polokwane.
Limpopo transport and community safety spokesperson Mike Maringa warned motorists to adhere to alerts by the weather services and not to attempt to cross low-lying bridges and flooded roads.
Cogta MEC Basikopo Makamu offered his condolences to the family and warned motorist not to attempt to cross flooded roads.
“We are in the middle of a tropical rain season and we may experience more flash floods during this period. We therefore plead with our people to be cautious when driving during heavy downpours,” said Makamu.
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