Thousands of houses, roads, schools and health facilities were left caked in mud after being submerged. More than 4,300 people were left homeless according to the government,

President Cyril Rampahosa said the "unprecedented" and "catastrophic disaster" was due to climate change.

The Eastern Cape government said 31 of the 92 dead were children and asked people in the province to observe a minute's silence at 11:00 am (0900 GMT).

All non-essential events in the province have been postponed, it added.

The area worst hit by the floods and subsequent landslides was the city of Mthatha, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) south of Johannesburg.

Work was underway to restore water and power supplies and repair damaged infrastructure, the Eastern Cape government said.