Police look for tractor driver that was swept away at Rankin’s Pass

Police at Rankin’s Pass in the Waterberg District in Limpopo, have launched an investigation following a tragic incident in which a 40-year-old tractor driver was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded low-water bridge at Tweestroom.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on Monday, 22 December 2025, at approximately 17:30. The driver was operating a tractor when he attempted to cross the low-water bridge, which had been submerged due to heavy rainfall in the area.

His employer alerted the Rankin’s Pass police after receiving information that the driver was approaching the flooded crossing.

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Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver may have misjudged the alignment of the tractor with the width of the bridge. As a result, the tractor veered off the structure and was swept into the fast-flowing river.

The driver was last seen at the time of the incident and has not been seen since.

Search and Rescue teams were immediately activated and carried out extensive search operations along the river and surrounding areas. Despite their efforts, the driver has not yet been located.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has urged motorists and machinery operators to exercise extreme caution during the rainy season.

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She warned against attempting to cross flooded rivers, low-water bridges, or roads covered by water, stressing that no destination is worth risking a life.

Police investigations and search operations are continuing, and authorities have appealed to the public to report any information that may assist in locating the missing driver.