Where did this photo come from? Lulama Zenzil/Gallo Images via Getty Images
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The South African government has not declared the severe weather affecting several provinces across the country a “national disaster”.
South African authorities say heavy rain, flooding, storm surge, damaging winds and snowfall have caused damage to infrastructure and disrupted essential services in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Free State and Mpumalanga states.
“This classification comes after the extreme weather experienced from 4 May 2026 onwards, including heavy rains, floods, storms, damaging winds and snowfall in the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces,” said Legadima Leso, Tok-Tok Pesin for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Dame Neva has given an update on the damage caused so far by the bad weather.
Elias Sithole, head of SA's National Disaster Management Centre, has declared the situation a “national disaster”.
Sithole said the national classification of extreme weather as a “disaster” placed responsibility for disaster management on the national government.
Sithole called on the national government to strengthen support for the disaster management structure so that they can implement diya plans to ensure measures are in place to help the national executive deal effectively with the impact of disasters.
They also recommended national, provincial and municipal governments to implement “multi-sectoral prevention, mitigation, relief and rehabilitation planning” to deal with the effects of the disaster.
In the Western Cape province, the Garden Route District Municipality said in a statement on Sunday morning that some areas were still isolated, with some communities without electricity, while non-governmental organizations helped to share food to affected communities.
“At this stage, many pipes are still cut in the affected areas,” he said.
“Humanitarian relief teams will continue to share food parcels and blankets with affected communities.”
Schools are closed due to bad weather in South Africa
Where did this photo come from? Frederick Soltan/Corbis via Getty Images
photos Online It shows that overnight rain and strong winds caused roofs to collapse, power outages to Pipo homes, downed trees and flooding of roads in many areas of South Africa.
D Education MEC David Menier made the decision in the interest of the safety of students and teachers and in extensive consultation with the provincial disaster management center and the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Menier says some public schools and special needs schools will close, but all ODA schools across the street that were not impacted will remain open.
“All public general and special needs schools in Circuits 3, 4, 5 and 6 are closed due to the severe weather warnings for these areas, including Worcester, Ceres, Rossonville, Tulbagh and the Hex River Valley,” Menier said.
“The schools affected have not received official notice of closure from the department head, and he has asked them to inform parents.”
“In addition, 11 schools in the Eden and Central Karoo Education District will remain closed on Monday as access to Dia schools has been affected by last week's storm.”
“All ODA schools in the Western Cape will remain open until they are approved for closure, on a case-by-case basis.”
South African Meteorological Service issues public advisory
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di south african weather service (SAWS) has issued an Orange Level 8 weather warning for South Africa with heavy rain disrupting activities in the Western Cape.
according to di weather service Such weather conditions have resulted in flooding of roads, bridges and formal and informal settlements, mudslides and rapid river flows that pose a threat to life.
This will be in place for the Western Cape until Tuesday for mountainous areas such as the Drakensteen, Stellenbosch, the western part of Thewaterskloof, the City of Cape Town, Breede Valley and Witzenberg local government.
SAWS has issued an Orange Level 6 warning for heavy rain, which may cause flooding of roads, low-lying bridges and the Pipo area in the southern West Coast and western parts of the Overberg districts until Tuesday.
In addition, for the coast between Lambert Bay and Canon Rocks until Tuesday, an Orange Level 6 warning will be issued for dangerous wind and waves, endangering marine navigation and causing damage to coastal buildings.
Additionally, an Orange Level 5 warning for damaging winds has been issued for the Central Western Cape and the northern and central parts of the Eastern Cape, but will affect the Western Cape until Tuesday.
SAWS does not emit warnings:
• Yellow Level 4 Warning: Damaging wind and waves are suitable for the coast between Alexander Bay and Lambert Bay until Tuesday.
• Yellow Level 2 warning: Heavy rainfall may cause flooding of low lying bridges and locations in the North West Coast, Eastern Cape Winelands and Overberg districts until Tuesday.
• Yellow Level 2 warning: Damaging winds on Sunday will cause damage to informal settlements, downed trees, and problems for high-powered vehicles on some routes in the Western Cape, southern parts of the Eastern Cape, interior KwaZulu-Natal, the southern and eastern Free State, as well as the central and southern Northern Cape, but until Tuesday for the Western Cape.
• Yellow Level 2 warning: Heavy snowfall will cause harm to vulnerable animals, icy roads will cause traffic disruptions and the closure of mountain passes is likely until Monday in the Karoo Hoogland Municipality of the Northern Cape and some places in the Cape Winelands District for the Western Cape and the northern part of the Eastern Cape.
In a statement, the Western Cape government said it should strengthen disaster preparedness for weather warnings.
“The District Provincial Disaster Management Center has activated coordination mechanisms in all districts of the City of Cape Town, with all disaster management centers on high alert,” the statement said.
The provincial government has demanded residents do the following:
• Monitor official communication channels for latest updates.
• Avoid unnecessary travel during critical situations.
• Use caution near rivers, low bridges and coastal areas.
• Secure loose objects and be prepared for high winds.