Rain continued to fall in the Western Cape on Wednesday following the occurrence of a cold front in the area this week.
Spokesperson for the South African Weather Service Mnikeli Ndabambi said rainy conditions would continue until the end of the week.
”Cold and rainy conditions will persist until the end of the week. A third cold front is expected to hit the Western Cape tomorrow [Thursday]. So coastal as well as inland towns should expect continued rainfall.” said Ndabambi.
”Farmers should also make provision for their livestock,” he said.
Snow had only fallen on one area of the Cape.
”Snow has fallen on Matroosberg Mountains near Ceres. There has been no other confirmation of snowfall in other areas,” he said.
He added that the rainfall average over the week was at 20mm and 40mm.
”Based on our observations in the Peninsula and the southern Boland at 8am this morning [Wednesday], the average rainfall was at between 20mm and 40mm. Cape Town [International] Airport had accumulated 55mm of rain,” he said.
Cape Town Disaster Management spokesperson Johan Minnie said: ”Water levels are rising in low lying areas in the province.”
Minnie said that Cape Town had not experienced any infrastructural damage during the rainy week.
”There has been no infrastructural damage in the city. However, there are about 500 families that are receiving food and blankets as water has entered their homes,” said Minnie.
”There has been a lot of rainfall in the last 24 hours — the prospects are that it will rain all week,” he said.
Minnie said possible health hazards were being monitored.
”We will be monitoring the situation to pick up on any possible trends,” said Minnie.
In the meantime, municipal manager in the Swartland area Joggie Schotz said there had been no serious damage in the area.
”We have not experienced any serious damage. There was, however, an incident where the Nogou River was overflowing. However, sand bags were placed and the situation is now under control,” said Schotz.
The Swartland municipality services 11 areas including Malmesbury, Darling and Moorreesburg.
”We also do not have cases of people’s health being in danger as a result of the weather,” said Schotz.
Provincial department of agriculture spokesperson Allie van Jaarsveld said that there had been no reports of stock losses as a result of the weather.
”There have been no reports of stock losses in the province. However, farmers need to be aware of the weather patterns,” said Van Jaarsveld. — Sapa