Gauteng heavy rains
Gauteng emergency services on high alert ahead of rainy weekend
On Thursday night, the province had its first single-digit overnight temperatures of the year.
The weather service issued an alert 4 warning as the persisting downpours have already submerged some bridges and roads in water.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said no patients were affected by the flooding in the hospital.
The weather conditions are expected to also affect driving as they could lead to reduced visibility and pooling on the roads.
Heavy downpours caused flooding, road closures, and accidents, while parts of Alexandra, Soweto, and Centurion were hardest hit by the overnight rain.
Emergency services in several provinces are dealing with the aftermath of heavy rains, localised flooding and car crashes.
Residents have been warned to take the necessary precautions and motorists to be safe on the roads as flooding is expected.
The Department of Water and Sanitation says that despite the recent damage caused by flooding, the rain has helped in clearing some of the pollution in the water system in Gauteng.
Spokesperson for the Weather Service Jacqueline Modika says residents must be vigilant.
Several houses were damaged and trees uprooted on Monday in areas, including Ennerdale and parts of Soweto on Monday night.
A heavy hailstorm has also been reported in Vereeniging and Laudium.
Low lying areas in Hammanskraal, Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve have been severely affected.
Residents from Extension 14 informal settlement near Soshanguve say they woke up to find their belongings floating on the water as Gauteng experiences heavy rains.
The South African Weather Service says from Saturday, the temperatures are expected to rise, putting the mercury back into the 20s.
Several cables have been damaged as a result of the heavy downpours over the last two days.
Technicians say they’re working to restore power to affected areas as soon as possible. The City of Tshwane's Selby Bokaba says it will take a while until power is to be restored.