City urges continued caution on Joburg’s storm-affected roads

Johannesburg’s emergency services are continuing to monitor roads and low-lying areas after severe weather over the weekend left several vehicles submerged and stranded, though no fresh severe-weather warning has been issued for the city as conditions ease into the new week.

Persistent rain over the weekend left roads wet and slippery and pushed water levels in rivers and streams across the city up significantly, with some areas experiencing flooding that left multiple vehicles submerged, Faizel Patel reports for The Citizen.

The wet conditions also contributed to a number of accidents across Gauteng.

City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said residents in low-lying areas had been advised to stay away from rivers and streams, and that parents were urged to keep a close eye on children near water.

“Faith-based organisations have also been asked to avoid riverbanks during the rainy period,” he said.

Mulaudzi said disaster management teams, swift-water rescue units and monitoring crews had remained on high alert overnight, covering all seven regions of the city.

“We are pleading with our motorists and residents to act responsibly and avoid unnecessary risks,” he said.

Residents facing life-threatening emergencies can contact the City's Command and Control Centre on 011 375 5911.

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla advised motorists to turn around immediately if they encountered submerged roads or standing water, warning that stalled vehicles put both drivers and emergency responders at risk.

“Stalled vehicles block emergency response access and present severe safety hazards. Drive well below the speed limit, maintain an extended following distance, and keep the headlights switched on,” he said.

Fihla also urged drivers to follow temporary barricades, road closures and instructions from JMPD officers directing traffic where routes remain affected.

Mulaudzi said the cold snap that accompanied the weekend's wet weather was still being felt across most parts of Johannesburg, and urged residents to take care when using heating devices.

According to the South African Weather Service's latest outlook, conditions are expected to remain cloudy and cool into the new week, with isolated showers, though no severe thunderstorm warning is currently in place for the city.