An extensive search is underway for the two people who have gone missing after were swept away by a river on two separate occasions in the Mkhondo area in Mpumalanga.

Acting Chief of Staff in the Office of the Mayor, Advocate Howard Vilakazi says it is alleged a 26-year-old woman slipped on a rock while trying to cross a stream during the torrential rains and the 17-year-old boy was swept away while trying to cross a flooded bridge.

Vilakazi says in a separate incident, an elderly woman died on the spot after a mud house collapsed on top of her.

He says several other households and infrastructure were affected and they are still consolidating a report on the extent of the damage.

Vilakazi says their teams remain on high alert as they are expecting more rain to continue throughout the week.