North West flash floods have left a 12-year-old girl dead in Taung as the South African Police Service Provincial Diving Unit and the Vryburg K9 Search and Rescue Unit pulled eight people alive from rivers and stranded vehicles in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District since the early hours of Friday, 1 May 2026. The first distress call came in at 03:30 that morning.
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Eight rescued across Reivillo, Pudimoe and Taung
SAPS confirmed ten rescue scenes and one recovery operation. Three people were saved while clinging to tree branches in Reivillo, Pudimoe and Taung, and five others were pulled from vehicles swept away by floodwaters. The team includes Warrant Officers Christo van Heerden, Pieta Lamprechts, Walter Congwane and Johan van Wyk, Captain Topsie Smit and Sergeant Moletsane Alfred Moloi of the Vryburg K9 Unit.
12-year-old drowns in Taung quarry
The fatal incident occurred when a 12-year-old girl went swimming in a quarry in Lokgabeng, next to Mokasa 2 village in Taung at about 17:30 on Sunday, 3 May 2026. Her body was recovered the following day, Monday, 4 May 2026.
Acting Provincial Commissioner praises bravery
Acting North West Provincial Police Commissioner Maj Gen (Dr) Ryno Naidoo commended the divers and search-and-rescue members for their courage and unwavering commitment, saying they placed their own lives at risk to save others under extremely dangerous conditions. He extended condolences to the family of the young girl who lost her life.
SAPS water-safety guidance
The SAPS urged the public not to cross roads closed by overflowing water, to assess the strength of the current before entering water and to travel feet-first if caught in a fast-flowing river to absorb impact. Anyone who falls into water and cannot reach the side should stay calm, avoid swallowing water, keep their head above water by kicking as if cycling and paddling with both hands, and remember that swimming in open water tires the body faster than swimming in a pool. SAPS warned that murky river and lake water makes it harder to find people who go under, and that strong currents at points where two rivers meet can pull swimmers under quickly.
