A flooded Jordaan River running through Bethlehem in the eastern Free State has prevented children from getting to school and workers to their jobs in the town.
Free State police spokesman Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said on Wednesday the river was overflowing.
The Bethlehem labour department said its offices were temporarily closed due to flooding and all four bridges leading into the town were submerged.
Workers living in areas of the city such as Bohlokong, Laprovance, Jordania, Bakenpark and Panorama were unable to get into the town.
Mophiring said various businesses along the river were under water, while several people were evacuated. He urged all residents to be cautious near waterways.
Although the Liebenbergsvlei River was flowing strongly, the road between Bethlehem and Reitz was still open.
SA Weather Service in Bloemfontein spokesman Michael Nethavhani said the current rainfall figures for the province were last seen in 1961.
Various farm dams had reportedly been washed away, flooding roads and cutting off farmers from towns in the Free State.
At places such as Philippolis residents were keeping a close watch on a full dam, which could flood parts of the town if it broke. In many other rural areas bridges were submerged, making access to farming communities difficult. - Sapa