At least one person was also transported to a hospital.

Part of Grayston Drive was closed as emergency medical services were scouring Jukskei River for survivors and more bodies.

According to Private Security company Vision Tactical, at least 20 bodies had been pulled from the river early Saturday evening. This could, however, not be confirmed by Johannesburg EMS, who said they were still determining the exact number of dead and missing.

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A source claimed that among the bodies were several members of a church group that were conducting a baptism ritual in the river, and were caught in a flash flood following heavy rains in the Atholl area on Saturday afternoon.

It is believed that some of the victims were children.

Johannesburg EMS were reported to be taking control of the scene. EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed the incident on Saturday evening.

He could not, however, confirm the exact number of bodies found in the river, nor how many people were in the group, as investigations were still ongoing and EMS members were still searching for bodies and survivors.

He confirmed that rescuers from various Emergency Services together with Saps were combing the scene with the assistance of a helicopter.

The Citizen