 has advised residents across the city to exercise caution ahead of the weekend as severe thunderstorms and heavy rains have been forecast.){kind=link}
By Akani Nkuna
The Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) has advised residents across the city to exercise caution ahead of the weekend as severe thunderstorms and heavy rains have been forecast.
Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi appeared in a video posted on the entity’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) early on Friday, 6 March, urging residents and motorists to remain vigilant amid potentially dangerous weather conditions, while reaffirming the department’s readiness should the situation escalate.
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“We would like to urge our residents, especially those in low-lying areas and informal settlements, to avoid crossing river streams while conducting their daily activities.
Parents and guardians must also monitor young children and ensure they stay away from river streams and drainage channels,” he said.
“Our motorists are also urged to exercise caution while driving, maintain a safe following distance, and avoid crossing flooded roads and low-lying bridges.”
This comes after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, which could lead to flooding of low-lying roads and bridges.
Other provinces, including the Free State and Northern Cape, have been issued with an Orange Level 5 warning for severe thunderstorms, which SAWS said could damage roads and infrastructure through heavy winds, hail and excessive lightning.
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Mulaudzi affirmed the EMS’ readiness to deal with any potential emergencies and encouraged residents to contact emergency services should dangerous situations arise.
“We remain on high alert with all our disaster management monitoring teams and EMS units, especially our specialised unit that responds to water-related emergencies, monitoring all seven regions of the city for any incidents that may occur,” Mulaudzi added.
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