Gauteng lashed by severe storms
SEVERE CONDITIONS: HAIL LASHES GAUTENG, CARS SWEPT OFF ROADS
The heavy rain and hail that hit the province on Saturday should clear from today.
After a weekend indoors, Gautengers can expect a clear week and sunshine.
Gauteng’s rainy and cold weather is expected to clear up today as the system gradually moves out of the province this evening, said the SA Weather Service.
The rain on Saturday and yesterday saw the weather service sending out warnings of severe conditions. Flash floods and hail caused chaos in parts of Gauteng.
There were unconfirmed reports that two people had drowned in the Apies River in Pretoria. Police and emergency services were invesitgating.
Other reports said vehicles were washed off roads and that hail blocked roads in parts of Tshwane. Emergency services took to various platforms, including Twitter, to warn people to be cautious when using roads in the province yesterday, sharing safety tips like the following: 20cm of water can sweep a person away; half a metre of water can float a car; never drive around barricades; don’t drown, turn around.
Slippery road conditions may have been a factor in a three-vehicle pile-up on the N1 South highway near Sandton yesterday morning, in which five people were injured, one seriously.
A Currie Cup rugby clash between the Blue Bulls and Western Province at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria had a delayed start because of torrential rain and lightning on Saturday night.
The rain came down in sheets during the match, forcing the abandonment of the fixture after the first half, reportedly the first time this has happened in the history of the competition. Western Province, who were leading 34-7 at the end of the first half, were then declared the winners. – jenniffero@citizen.co.za