By Nkhensani Chauke and Alicia Mmashakana
Heavy rainfall and flooding have wreaked havoc across cities in South Africa, particularly in the North West, Gauteng, the northern Free State, the Highveld areas of Mpumalanga, and southwestern Limpopo.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 5 warning, urging extreme caution for residents and motorists.
SAWS had previously alerted residents on Wednesday about severe weather conditions, predicting disruptive rainfall and strong winds.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, also urged all South Africans to remain vigilant as heavy rains persist in several parts of the country.
He said the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating response efforts with provincial and local authorities to ensure a swift and effective response to any emergencies.
“While our dedicated teams are on high alert, the first line of defence is always preparedness. We urge South Africans to not take risks, avoid flooded roads, stay informed, and follow official warnings. The safety of all South Africans during this time remains a priority,” said Hlabisa.
Additionally, Hlabisa urged all communities to delay their trips to areas with heavy rains if those trips are not urgent and can be delayed for safety purposes.
In Gauteng, Tshwane residents faced power outages and infrastructure damage following a severe storm and a subsequent explosion at Njala Substation on Tuesday night.
The City urged affected residents to report their power outages.
“Our emergency teams have successfully extinguished the fire at Njala Substation, which caused widespread outages in Pretoria East,” the City said.
“Despite ongoing efforts to restore power, repairs are delayed due to inclement weather, and restoration times remain uncertain.”
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department issued a statement on Tuesday stating that it will continue to monitor the adverse weather conditions and urging residents to remain vigilant following an Orange Level 5 warning.
The continuous rain has caused delays in responding to power outages in most of Tshwane’s seven regions.
Tshwane Emergency Services stated that this has resulted in a massive restoration backlog, which is worsened by the need to prioritise the safety of their technicians, who are not permitted to work on the network during wet and rainy weather, including pipe bursts that require welding.
“In the meantime, waste collection and disposal services remain manageable. However, if the intense rain continues, there might be a delay in this service. Residents will be informed of the developments,” Tshwane Emergency Services said.
There have been no major incidents reported in Johannesburg, as confirmed by the City’s emergency services spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi.
Despite ongoing disruptive rainfall this week, residents are urged to prioritise safety by avoiding stream crossings during daily activities.
Motorists should maintain a safe following distance and steer clear of flooded roads and low-lying bridges.
“We are maintaining high alert across all seven regions of the City of Johannesburg, monitoring closely for any potential emergencies,” Mulaudzi said.
KwaZulu-Natal is also experiencing widespread showers and thundershowers, initially in the northwestern regions and expected to spread across most parts of the province by Thursday.
Severe thunderstorms are also forecast for Mpumalanga, Limpopo and parts of North West, with strong winds, intense lightning, and possible hail.
“Rainfall accumulation of at least 40mm is expected over the south-western parts of KZN tomorrow which may lead to flooding and localised impacts. The flooding may extend up until Thursday morning,” SAWS said on Wednesday.
South Africa has been battered by extreme weather conditions, prompting SAWS to issue a heavy rain warning in January, residents were cautioned about impending scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers across the central and eastern regions, which may result in intense downpours and flooding.
According to SAWS, disruptive rains are set to continue in some parts of Limpopo on Wednesday for the next 10 days.
The Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality, in Limpopo, is experiencing high water levels from the Donkerpoort dam.
Following recent heavy rains, the dam is overflowing downstream, and low-lying areas are affected. Roadtan and Vaalwater are also affected by these floods.
The Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality said on Wednesday: “Residents are advised to be vigilant and not attempt to cross flooded roads or bridges.”
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