The South African Weather Service has issued a warning of heavy rainfall and localised flooding in low lying areas of the Northern Cape on Tuesday.
THE SOUTH African Weather Service has issued a warning of heavy rainfall and localised flooding in low lying areas of the Northern Cape on Tuesday.
It warned that road visibility as well as essential services including electricity and network coverage could be affected during the anticipated stormy weather.
Areas that could be affected include the Sol Plaatje, Phokwane, Magareng, Dikgatlong, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong, Kgatelopele and Gamagara municipal districts.
The public has been advised to avoid rivers and dams and not to cross swollen streams.
Farmers have also been warned about possible damage to crops.
Agri-Northern Cape president, Nicol Jansen, said that while farmers situated along the banks of the Vaal and Orange rivers were on high alert, the threat was not critical at this stage.
“Farmers have been cautioned to protect their infrastructure, livestock and water pumps if the sluice gates are opened.
“Currently the situation is under control as the Department of Water and Sanitation are guided by the actual rainfall figures, as opposed to weather predictions. The farmers who are most at risk in the event of flooding are those with irrigation crops such as pecan nuts, lucerne, corn and grape crops. Raisin crops have not been harvested yet.”
He pointed out that farmers had not recovered financially after sustaining flood damage in 2011.
“We are trusting that the Department of Water and Sanitation will release the floodgates in line with the regulations. If the dams are over capacity, more damage is caused to infrastructure due to the high water pressure.”
Jansen believed that tropical cyclone Eloise that had caused widespread damage in Mozambique and brought heavy rainfall to parts of the country, would lose its momentum and intensity over the coming days.
“We are still hoping for rain in drought stricken areas including Calvinia, Sutherland, Fraserburg, Brandvlei and central regions of the Northern Cape.”
The weather forecast for the rest of the week in Kimberley is expected to remain in the high 20 degree celsius mark with showers and thundershowers.
