By Mapaballo Borotho
- A cold front is expected to bring freezing temperatures to Gauteng this week, with Johannesburg forecast to reach 0°C.
- Authorities are urging residents to take precautions as winter conditions intensify across the province.
- The cold weather also raises concerns about shack fires and other winter-related emergencies, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Gauteng residents have been warned to brace themselves for a significant drop in temperatures as a cold front is expected to grip the province this week.
Temperatures are forecast to fall close to the freezing mark across parts of Gauteng as winter conditions intensify across much of the country.
The cold weather serves as a stark reminder that winter is now in full swing, with residents urged to take the necessary precautions to keep warm.
“Breaking: Early forecast suggests a cold snap in Gauteng from Thursday,” Gauteng Weather said in a social media post.
According to the forecast, temperatures in Johannesburg are expected to drop to 0°C on Friday, with a daytime high of 14°C.
Pretoria is expected to record a low of 2°C and a high of 15°C.
As temperatures continue to fall, emergency services remain on high alert to respond to weather-related incidents.
Cold weather often brings hardship for vulnerable communities, particularly those living in informal settlements. Many households rely on heating devices such as gas heaters, imbawulas, paraffin stoves and electric heaters to stay warm during winter.
While these heating methods provide much-needed relief from the cold, they can also increase the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning if not used safely.
Shack fires are a recurring tragedy in South Africa during the winter season, with hundreds of people losing their lives or being displaced every year as fires spread rapidly through densely populated informal settlements.
Just last week, a devastating fire destroyed more than 150 shacks in Plastic View, Pretoria, leaving hundreds displaced. Days later, another fire in the same settlement claimed the life of a 13-year-old child and left several family members injured.
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