Floods hit thousands in S Africa

Widespread flooding after heavy rains in South Africa has affected over 18,000 people, a emergency management official has said.
Weekend rains caused floods that blocked roads, provoked landslides and cut off power to areas around Cape Town, according to the city's disaster management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.
"Approximately 18,000 people were affected, an evacuation was initiated and people were sheltered in various halls," Solomons-Johannes was quoted yesterday as saying by Sapa news agency.
"Engineering crews cleared up many of the areas where these incidents occurred and will, during the course of tomorrow (Sunday) proceed with recovery work," he added.
At least one woman died and another is missing after floodwaters swept their car off a bridge near Stellenbosch, 40 kilometres from Cape Town, police said.

"The ladies were on their way to church when the heavy waters swayed their car into the river," said police spokesman Thembinkosi Kinana.
The woman's body was found yesterday.
Meanwhile rescue workers had to evacuate 129 patients from a clinic in Somerset West late Friday night after a river broke its banks and flooded the facility 44 kilometres from Cape Town, according to provincial disaster management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell.