🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
Severe weather conditions cause disruption and fatality in South Africa
via The Citizen13 min read
Severe weather conditions are impacting South Africa, leading to various incidents across the country. The South African Weather Service Saws issued a yellow level 2 warning, prompting the closure of 125 schools in the Western Cape from May 6 to May 8, 2026. David Maynier, MEC for education in the Western Cape, announced these closures, a message reinforced by Garden Route mayor Marais Kruger, who advised residents to stay home due to strong winds and predicted heavy rain. In Germiston, Johannesburg, a tree fell onto shacks in the Makausi informal settlement on May 6, 2026, resulting in the death of a young woman and minor injuries to three others. Rescue teams from the City of Ekurhuleni responded, with Emergency Management Services personnel declaring one victim deceased at the scene. Additionally, Victoria Bay experienced high tides and elevated sea levels, pushing seawater into surrounding areas and public restrooms. Residents and visitors are urged to avoid the affected beachfront and exercise caution near the shoreline. The Garden Route municipality also reported the closure of clinics at Keurhoek and Wittedrift due to the weather, and many roads, including the N2 along Brenton on Sea in Knysna, have been closed due to flooding and severe conditions.
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