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Weather Service predicts more downpours in SA this week

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The South African Weather Service is predicting more downpours in some parts of the country in the coming week.

This comes as some communities in parts of North West, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo count the cost of the damage caused by recent rains.

Houses, bridges, schools and clinics have been washed away in some areas.

The Weather Service’s Guy Joel says, “The current wet spell that we are seeing across much of South Africa is set to continue for the good part of this coming week. But we will be seeing a slight decrease in the intensity of rain and thundershowers for most parts of the country.”

“On Monday, we are expecting up to 30% of rain and thundershowers for much of the western and eastern parts of the country including Gauteng and Highveld areas. Tuesday, we see some of the thundershowers intensifying especially in the southern parts of the country.”

North West

Disaster Management teams have been activated across the North West Province to respond to any eventualities.

More than a hundred houses have been destroyed at Lebotloane village in the Moretele local municipality, Bloemhof in the Lekwa Teemane municipality, and Monnakato village in Moses Kotane.

Around Mahikeng, several houses were also flooded, reportedly because of the poor drainage systems.

Authorities say the South African Weather Services, has also warned of more rainfall. They have also urged communities to take precautionary measures during these rainy seasons

Free State farmers

Farmers in the Free State say the continuous rainfall is costing them a fortune. They say the soil has been ploughed and is ready for planting, but they cannot due to the recent rains.

Farmers are concerned that if the rain persists the season might end before they finish planting seeds. The recent rainfall has caused delays in planting.

Maleho Motshumi who has been a farmer for many years, says this year has been one of the worst for sunflower crops.

“Whilst we know we cannot complain about rain. We are however making requests to the powers that are that we should at least give us a chance to plant and let our seed germinate and our plants grow. And then rains can come as much as possible.”

SABC News’s Meteorologist Kumsa Masizana talks about the weather in December 2021 in SA:

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