As the downpours continue unabated, the Department of Water And Sanitation would like to caution Gauteng residents against crossing flooded rivers and bridges in the next two days.

Hennops River in Centurion, south of Pretoria is already flooded and bridge that links the area with the city is closed for crossing.

For the past weeks large parts of the country have been pounded by perennial rains that have resulted in the flooding of some rivers and bridges in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

No fatalities have been reported so far.

The South African Weather Services predicts that the heavy rains will continue until this Wednesday when the downpours will begin to subside. Gauteng is expected to receive 80% of the rain between today and tomorrow (Tuesday).

Residents who live below the floodline (of rivers) are warned to be cautious and move to safer areas at the earliest sign of flooding. People who have erected illegal dwellings on the catchment of rivers must find alternative accommodation as they risk being flooded. Swimming in the rivers during these rains may put the lives of the swimmers at risk.

As the dam levels rise as a result of the persistent rains, officials of the Department are ready to open sluice gates to release water from the dams that are full to avoid any possible flooding. Should this happen, people whose houses are below the floodline are exposed to danger of being flooded.

Last month eThekwini Metro embarked on a campaign to ask illegal shack dwellers to relocate from the banks of rivers.