WeeklySA_AdminIMPACT: After a week of flooding, damaged roads and storm disruption across several provinces, another storm-ridden week forecast from Sunday…
By Own Correspondent
South Africa is bracing for another wave of dangerous weather after days of flooding, storm damage and widespread disruption across several provinces, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning that a powerful cold front could worsen already fragile conditions in flood-hit communities.
The latest weather alert comes as parts of the country are still recovering from heavy rains, swollen rivers, damaged roads and localised flooding incidents that affected homes, transport routes and informal settlements during the past week.
SAWS said an intense cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday before moving eastwards along the southern coastline and interior regions until Tuesday, bringing disruptive rainfall, gale-force winds, rough seas and sharply colder temperatures.
Authorities fear the new system could compound the impact of saturated ground conditions and vulnerable infrastructure after several provinces experienced persistent rainfall linked to a cut-off low weather system earlier this week.
The Weather Service has issued an Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall over mountainous parts of the Western Cape, including Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Breede Valley and Witzenberg municipalities, where flooding of roads, bridges, formal and informal settlements, mudslides and dangerous river conditions are expected between Sunday and Tuesday.
An Orange Level 6 warning was also issued for the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, the West Coast and western parts of the Overberg, with forecasters warning of flooding in low-lying areas and severe disruption to transport routes and communities.
Rainfall totals between 100mm and 200mm are forecast in some areas, raising fears of flash floods and infrastructure damage, especially in communities already weakened by previous storms.
Strong interior winds of up to 70km/h are also expected across parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape, while damaging coastal winds and destructive waves are forecast between Alexander Bay and Plettenberg Bay.
Emergency services across the country have remained on high alert this week as heavy rainfall caused localised flooding incidents in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, disrupting traffic, damaging homes and forcing some residents to seek temporary shelter.
Several roads and low-water bridges were temporarily closed in some areas as rivers overflowed following days of sustained rainfall.
Municipal disaster management teams also reported incidents of uprooted trees, power outages and damage to informal structures in vulnerable communities.
Coastal authorities are now warning fishermen, sailors and beachgoers to avoid unnecessary activities at sea as rough-ocean conditions intensify along the southern and western coastline.
Emergency responders
The cold front is also expected to bring snowfall to parts of the Northern Cape and Western Cape high-lying regions, with SAWS issuing a Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive snowfall that could affect mountain passes, livestock and traffic conditions.
Disaster management teams are urging residents living near rivers, low-lying areas and flood-prone informal settlements to remain vigilant as the weather deteriorates.
SAWS advised the public to avoid crossing flooded roads and swollen rivers, limit unnecessary travel during heavy downpours and secure outdoor objects that could be displaced by strong winds.
Community leaders and emergency responders have also been encouraged to activate contingency plans and prepare for possible evacuations should conditions worsen over the coming days.
Weather forecasters warned that the combination of saturated ground, strong winds and additional heavy rainfall significantly increases the risk of flooding, mudslides and infrastructure failures in vulnerable areas.
The latest warning has renewed concerns about South Africa’s growing exposure to extreme weather events, with municipalities increasingly struggling to cope with stormwater drainage failures, ageing infrastructure and informal settlements located in high-risk flood zones.
Authorities have appealed to residents to monitor official weather updates and ignore unverified social media reports as the country braces for another potentially destructive week of severe weather. – SAnews.gov.za
MIRROR Briefs
International Plant Health Day
The Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, will commemorate the 2026 International Day of Plant Health in Mbombela.
The International Day of Plant Health is observed annually on May 12 to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.
The event will take place at the Ehlanzeni District Office Disaster Management Centre and forms part of global efforts to promote plant health and biosecurity.
The International Day of Plant Health was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.
This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security”, highlighting the importance of safeguarding crops and natural vegetation from pests and diseases.- SAnews.gov.za
Hubo Studio Earns Global Honour
South African architecture firm Hubo Studio has earned global recognition after being named a finalist in three categories at the prestigious Architizer A+Awards, placing the Johannesburg-based practice among the world’s leading emerging design studios.
Hubo Studio is one of only five firms worldwide shortlisted in the Best Small Firm category for practices employing between six and 15 people — a major milestone for South African architecture on the international stage.
The studio’s acclaimed Redhill Early Learning Centre in Johannesburg has also secured finalist positions in both the Educational Interiors and Kindergarten categories, placing the project among the top five globally in each division.
Hubo Studio’s Redhill Early Learning Centre has drawn praise for its innovative child-centred design philosophy. Conceived as a “mini city” for children, the project features interconnected learning spaces that encourage curiosity, creativity and collaboration. The development incorporates a central piazza, vertical ateliers and seamless indoor-outdoor integration aimed at fostering independence and engagement among young learners.
Founder and Lead Architect of Hubo Studio, Asher Marcus, said the recognition carried significance beyond the practice itself.
Public voting for the Architizer A+Awards Popular Choice Award opened on May 4 and runs until May 15, allowing supporters around the world to vote daily for their preferred finalists.
Ilifa Hosts Indigenous Languages Indaba
Ifa Lethu Institute, in partnership with the Methodist Church of South Africa, will host an indigenous languages indaba at the Sharpeville Methodist Church in the Vaal on May16.
The colloquium, whose theme is “Save Mother Tongues Now”, will feature an array of eminent speakers on the topic. The event starts at 16:00.
A non-profit entity, Ilifa Lethu advocates for the parity of languages in South Africa and decries the near-extinction of African languages in official and public space – much against the dictates of the South African Constitution, in which is enshrined the protection of indigenous languages.
