Snl24 | Snow and storms: Mzansi on high alert
Sani Pass Border Port’s temporarily shut down due to bad weather conditions.
A DEVASTATING winter storm has brought South Africa to a standstill, with the Sani Pass port of entry closed due to hazardous conditions.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) and stakeholders made the decision to shut down operations on Saturday, 21 September, citing significant danger to travellers, tourists, and officials.
The closure comes as a potent cold front and cut-off low-pressure system bear down on the country, threatening disruptive snow and severe weather across most provinces this weekend.
Gauteng, in particular, is bracing for the worst, with snow and scattered thunderstorms forecasted.
Daily Sun reported that “Snow, rain, and strong winds are expected all over Mzansi.”
“We are expecting significant snowfall in parts of the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, Drakensberg Mountains, northern KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Free State, and southern Mpumalanga,” said a South African Weather Service (SAWS) spokesperson.
According to Vox Weather’s Annette Botha, there’s a possibility of ice rain or sleet in the southeastern parts of Gauteng bordering the Free State and Mpumalanga, where widespread snow is expected.
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Gauteng’s Joint Operations Committee has urged residents to exercise caution.
“We advise residents to only travel if necessary and to be on high alert for icy and wet roads,” said a committee representative.
Robert Mulaudzi, City of Joburg’s emergency services spokesman, warned, “We urge all our residents to use all heating devices safely and not to leave them unattended while in use to prevent fire incidents at home during the extremely cold temperatures.”
“We have our disaster management monitoring teams in all seven regions of the city, together with all our 29 fire station crews, on high alert to ensure we effectively respond to all emergencies which might occur during the cold front.”
Lindsay Mnguni, Tshwane emergency services spokeswoman, echoed this sentiment.
“Residents must be cautious when attempting to keep warm.”
Daphne Mokoena, Eskom spokeswoman, reassured: “Our generation operational recovery plan is in place to meet anticipated power demand, with sufficient emergency reserves to manage sudden changes. We also have sufficient emergency reserves to manage any sudden changes in demand during peak periods, and our summer outlook remains unchanged.”
The City of Joburg and Tshwane have placed their emergency services on high alert, with disaster management teams and fire station crews ready to respond to emergencies. Additionally, Snow Report indicated a possibility of light snow dusting in Joburg this weekend, a rare occurrence last seen in July 2023 when temperatures dropped to -6°C in southern Gauteng.
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