Gauteng emergency services on high alert amid heavy rains

Heavy downpours caused flooding, road closures, and accidents, while parts of Alexandra, Soweto, and Centurion were hardest hit by the overnight rain.

Flooding in Johannesburg on Saturday, 8 February 2020. Picture: Twitter/MyJRA

Veronica Mokhoali | 58 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - Emergency services in Gauteng on Saturday remained on high alert as heavy rains continued to leave a trail of destruction in parts of the province.

Heavy downpours caused flooding, road closures, and accidents, while parts of Alexandra, Soweto, and Centurion were hardest hit by the overnight rain.

@CityofJoburgEMS we are monitoring the situation at the bridges in the south. Silver lane in Mayfield park has subsided a bit. Will update should it change @tameTIMES @ComaroChronicle @CityofJoburgZA @CoJPublicSafety pic.twitter.com/c7G7LNt5ZG
— Cllr Sarah Wissler (@sahara67) February 8, 2020

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) deployed disaster relief to assist affected communities.

Cogta spokesperson Mary Martins said all efforts were being put in place to prevent fatalities in the flooded areas.

“We have deployed emergency services and disaster management personnel to all these areas,” Martins said.

#flooding Situation at Helen Joseph Hospital pic.twitter.com/m0kA5GNCCG
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) February 8, 2020

#flooding Region E Officers monitoring rising water levels along the Jukskei river near Setswetla Informal settlement, Alexandra pic.twitter.com/gT8H0u2Txq
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) February 8, 2020

Meanwhile, the Gauteng traffic police said several areas were flooded including Witkoppen Road, the N3 Gilooly’s offramp, the M1 double decker highway, and the Buccleuch interchange.

Spokesperson for Gauteng traffic police Obed Sibasa said: “We urge motorists to exercise caution and to take it easy on the roads by reducing speed, switching lights on to increase visibility, to keep a safe following distance, and to avoid flooded roads and low laying bridges.”

More in Local

Comments

EWN welcomes all comments that are constructive, contribute to discussions in a meaningful manner and take stories forward.

However, we will NOT condone the following:

- Racism (including offensive comments based on ethnicity and nationality)
- Sexism
- Homophobia
- Religious intolerance
- Cyber bullying
- Hate speech
- Derogatory language
- Comments inciting violence.

We ask that your comments remain relevant to the articles they appear on and do not include general banter or conversation as this dilutes the effectiveness of the comments section.

We strive to make the EWN community a safe and welcoming space for all.

EWN reserves the right to: 1) remove any comments that do not follow the above guidelines; and, 2) ban users who repeatedly infringe the rules.

Should you find any comments upsetting or offensive you can also flag them and we will assess it against our guidelines.

EWN is constantly reviewing its comments policy in order to create an environment conducive to constructive conversations.

Gauteng emergency services on high alert amid heavy rains

Comments

Choose an EWN Twitter account

Choose an EWN app