WATCH: Massive search and recovery operation for man, missing girl in Reservoir Hills

Search and rescue teams have spread out across the city and surrounds, trying to find people reported missing.

Separate rescue missions are taking place in areas including uMzinyathi, Inanda and Hammarsdale.

Newswatch joined search and rescue teams in Reservoir Hills on Wednesday while they set about the grim task of providing closure to friends and family of the missing.

At the informal settlement, officials said the torrential downpours caused a huge mudslide and collapse of several informal homes. 

Three people, a woman, a man, and an eight-year-old girl, were reported missing.

Rescuers were able to find the body of the woman, they also managed to locate the man's body on Tuesday.

This led to the launch of a massive recovery operation, as the body was understood to be pinned to a tree inside the rubble, cars, and debris.

Rescuers brought in heavy machinery to retrieve the body, which was at an advanced stage of decomposition due to the length of time it has been in the rubble.

At the same time, search and rescue members were also looking for the body of a missing eight-year-old girl. 

When Newswatch arrived at the area, police were escorting the mother to the police station to open a missing person's case.