Heatwave hits SA, temperatures expected to normalise on Tuesday

Some Johannesburg residents have described as unbearable today’s extremely hot weather conditions. Five provinces have been hit by a heatwave this weekend, and it’s expected to continue until Monday.

The provinces affected are Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Free State and the Northern Cape.

Citizens have been urged to keep hydrated and avoid exposure to the sun.

For the next couple of days, people have been advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. They must drink lots of water and dress light.

The City of Ekurhuleni has urged residents to use water sparingly.

Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini says the municipality’s water reservoirs might be running low due to a high demand and evaporation in some of the dams that are exposed to the sun.

Dlamini adds that parts of some areas might also experience low water pressure.

“We know when it’s so hot people will want to utilise a lot of water. Hence we are saying when it comes to gardening people must cease using hose pipes and when it comes to washing cars as well. So with that advise we respect the resource called water at this time,” says Dlamini.

The SA Weather Service says the mercury will climb above 40 degrees in some areas. Temperatures are only expected to normalise on Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, there is  good news for Johannesburg residents. The city has re-opened a number of its public swimming pools. The decision comes as a relief to residents during the current heatwave.

The city recently had to shutdown some of its public swimming pools due to a lack of the chemicals that keep the water clean and healthy.

The City of Joburg’s Ayanda Radebe says, “We are ready, the chemical situation has been fixed. All the city’s pools are open and ready to accommodate all our residents.”

“I urge all the residents to put on trunk locks and to drink as much liquid as possible, and to adhere to the swimming pools rules. Our swimming pools do have safe-guards. I urge all the residents to listen to them and adhere to their rules,” adds Radebe.