MTHATHA - The search for pupils swept away in floods near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is resuming.
Their minibus taxi was swept off a bridge.
Three children survived the ordeal and were found clinging to a tree.
At least nine people have already been killed in the province.
Rains, strong winds, and snowfall have caused major disruptions, damaging infrastructure and cutting power.
Eastern Cape government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said rescue operations are continuing this morning.
"The divers and entire rescue team will go back to the area to search and comb the area for those missing children," she said.
Rantjie said hundreds of people have been displaced.
"Efforts to support those displaced families are underway. The premier and his executive council will begin assessing the damage in the province."