Rescue workers were working around the clock to try and retrieve the body of a 28-year-old Kempton Park man who got washed away by rough waves at East Beach in East London, police said on Sunday.

Superintendent Mtati Tana said the man, who was visiting East London with friends on a project, "went to have fun at the beach when the incident happened" on Saturday evening.

"Police and rescue units searched overnight but could not find the body. The search resumed this morning and continued throughout the day but nothing has been found," Tana said.

Meanwhile, Percy Morokane of the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) has urged people to be extra cautious around swimming pools, rivers and dams during the rainy season.

"The festive season adds to a list of office and private year-end activities which may see people gathering at some points near our dams and rivers. This might prove fatal to some," he said.

The Johanneburg EMS recorded 104 drownings since the beginning of the year, with the highest fatalities having been reported during October. Eighteen people were reported drowned that month, followed closely by the first month of the year which had 16 reported cases.

"The are several factors that might lead to an upsurge in these drowning statistics, high on the list being lack of swimming skills... with people showing off, drunkenness as excessive intake of intoxicating liquor might lead to impaired judgement," Morokane said.