Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in parts of the Northern Cape.

Premier Dr Zamani Saul says the John Taolo Gaetsewe District is the worst affected.

In a tweet, the premier says some villages in the area are completely cutoff.

“We are on the ground distributing food parcels to these affected areas with the help of SANDF. We are busy finalising our plans to restore the damaged roads,” he concludes.

The Northern Cape is one of several provinces in the country that have been pounded by persistent rains.

In Mpumalanga, more than eight people drowned in overflowing rivers, dams and streams.

Mbombela and Nkomazi have been severely affected with houses and road infrastructure badly damaged.

Members of communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal have also lost homes to the heavy rains.