Two children, who were swept away by floodwaters in Chatsworth near Malmesbury, have been found safe, but taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

This after a farm dam in Riverlands burst its banks in the early hours of this morning.

The area has sustained much damage, including a nearby primary school.

At this stage, all people are accounted for. Gift of the Givers says thousands of people have been displaced, and they will be providing humanitarian relief.

Police say they responded to frantic calls from the public at around 04:45 on Thursday morning. The police immediately activated their disaster plan and responded with all role players.

Disaster management, together with the Swartland Municipality is busy assessing the situation.

The MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, has meanwhile extended his gratitude to the West Coast Disaster Management Centre and Swartland Municipality for their prompt and effective response.

‘Special thanks are also given to the Fire and Rescue and Law Enforcement Services, whose rapid actions ensured that no lives were lost.’

Bredell, accompanied by engineers from the Department of Local Government, was on-site this morning to assess the damage to infrastructure and coordinate humanitarian aid efforts.

The priority is to ensure that all affected individuals have access to clean water and basic services throughout the weekend.

He says the flooding was caused by a breach in a dam located on the Dassenberg property, leading to significant flooding in parts of Riverlands and Dassenberg.

‘We urge residents to stay safe and remain vigilant, as the South African Weather Service has predicted more rainfall for the coming weekend. We ask that community members remain calm and follow the instructions of emergency officials on the ground.’

An Incident Command Post has been established at the Riverland Primary School.