Weather Service pleads with citizens to heed warnings

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says local authorities should do more to ensure that members of the public heed its warnings to prevent loss of life.

This after heavy snowfall caused major disruptions in provinces including KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Eastern Cape at the weekend.

Some motorists were forced to spend two days in their vehicles after snow blanketed the N3 highway between Warden in the Free State province and Tugela Plaza in the KwaZulu-Natal.

The KwaZulu-Natal authorities have confirmed that a woman has died of hypothermia following the inclement weather conditions in the province.

Weather forecaster Wiseman Dlamini has advised the public to constantly check weather reports to avoid being caught in dangerous conditions.

“We issued the warning as early as Wednesday and we kept updating the warnings for the public and the public can even make it a daily duty for themselves to check these warnings. We do issue them on our website so that you get to know if you are being affected in that particular municipality,” adds Dlamini.

“Even if you are planning your trip, I think going forward, the weather has to stand out as one of the important things you do before you complete all your planning going forward.”

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