Nonhlanhla Ndlovu
Pretoria - Pretoria is expected to experience more rainfall and flooding this week.
The South African Weather Service yesterday issued an advisory on strong winds that may be associated with storms and cold.
However, these were expected to clear by tomorrow.
“Going into the evening hours, the current rainfall over Gauteng could be associated with heavier falls, which may lead to localise flooding,” the weatherman yesterday said.
Senior weather forecaster Puseletso Mofokeng said: “We can expect heavier rainfall today (Tuesday), associated with flooding not only in low lying areas, but also in flat lying areas.“
The South African Weather Service went on to warn drivers to follow the K53 rules, which state drivers should reduce speed, keep their headlights on, and keep a safe following distance because the car could skid on the wet surface when brakes were applied.
They also advised residents not to cross overflowing streams.
“I don’t advise motorists to pass such areas because cars may be taken by the water, resulting in unfortunate loss of life,” said Mofokeng.
This follows reported flooding at the weekend in Hammanskraal, among other areas, where 15 houses were flooded, mainly due to a lack of proper drainage systems.
“No one was injured and there are no family members that wanted to relocate for temporary shelter,” said Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson Charles Mabaso.
He said officials from the roads and stormwater department managed to open a drainage system for the affected area.
The city went on to warn people driving in the rain “never to use cruise control in wet conditions, as using cruise control during wet weather can cause you to lose control of your vehicle”.
They also cautioned against driving during severe storms, parking close to electrical power lines, streams and rivers, and urged people to keep clear of metal structures like fences.
The metro also said it was checking up on communities known to always be hard hit during heavy rain, to see if any had suffered flooding and if any people required assistance.
Pretoria News