SAWS warns of cold weather conditions

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces will experience very cold, wet and windy conditions on Thursday.

“A high pressure system will be ridging behind a cold front on Thursday and is expected to affect the south-eastern regions of Namakwa, as well as over the Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Little Karoo municipalities of the Western Cape on Thursday, resulting in cold to very cold, wet and windy conditions,” SAWS said on Wednesday.

The weather service has advised the public to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety and health of their animals during very cold, wet and windy days.

The Western Cape can also expect damaging winds from Thursday until Sunday.

“A high pressure will be ridging behind a cold front on Thursday, affecting the Western Cape coastline until Friday.  This will result in south-westerly waves of 4.0m to 6.0m, as well as wave periods of 10-13s between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas on Thursday morning, spreading to Plettenberg Bay and Alexander Bay in the afternoon, subsiding from Friday morning. 

“Windy conditions (40-60km/h) can also be expected along the southwestern and southern coastlines on Thursday,” the weather service said.

KwaZulu-Natal will also experience damaging winds on the east coast from Thursday until Friday.

“A passage of a cold front results in strong southerly to south-westerly winds along the coast on Friday, with average speed of 25 - 35KT gusting 35 - 40KT from tomorrow evening between Port Edward and Mtunzini spreading to Kosi Bay by Friday.”

These weather conditions will result in difficulty in navigation to vessels at sea, with small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing within a locality.

Disruption to beachfront activities can also be expected.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape province has been warned of disruptive snow on Thursday.

“Light snow, with surface temperatures below freezing, will follow the passage of a cold front. Although snow accumulation will be minimal, icing is expected on the road surfaces, due to low minimum temperatures on the high ground. Light snow and icy roads will result in traffic disruptions at night,” SAWS said.

Damaging winds will also affect the east coast of the Eastern Cape from Thursday until Friday.

“Strong to gale force W/SW winds are expected as a cold front passes through the province. These strong winds are expected to increase the sea state to about 4.5 to 6.5m from the afternoon. Due to these waves persisting for more than a 24 hour period, wave impacts may be possible,” SAWS said.

The impact will be localised disruptions to harbours/ports and beach activities, difficulty in navigation, small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing within a locality and danger to life. 

Major Mossel Bay Road Upgrade 68% Complete

MOSSEL BAY - The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) says steady progress is being made on the R520 million upgrade of Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay – the largest provincial road investment in the Garden Route District.

On 17 July, traffic was switched to the newly built seaside lanes, easing congestion at the temporary fuel station intersection. While the ride quality is not yet optimal, the final asphalt surfacing will be laid towards the end of the project to improve smoothness and align the road level to kerb drainage structures.

The new Garret Street ocean-side intersection and the Gericke Road link are now open, improving traffic flow, while vehicles are also being diverted over the newly completed Blinde River bridge – a key milestone in the upgrade.

In the coming months, work will continue on the new entrance to Langeberg Mall, set to open in September, and several landside intersections will be temporarily closed for about two weeks each to speed up construction.

Provincial Infrastructure Minister Tertuis Simmers says the project is creating significant economic opportunities. By the end of June, R57.3 million had been spent on targeted enterprises, 37 778 person-days of work had been created – exceeding the 250-work-opportunity target with 285 achieved so far - and 20 subcontract packages worth over R13.6 million had been awarded. Notably, six of the 13 current small local enterprises on site are women-owned.

Currently 68% complete, the upgrade remains on track for completion by the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. Simmers praised the project team’s agility after a potential 10-day delay due to unmapped services was resolved within five days.

The DOI acknowledges the inconvenience to motorists but says the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term disruption. “This investment in infrastructure will unlock even more economic opportunities,” Simmers said.

Eastern Cape Speeds Up Relocation of June Flood Victims with New Temporary Homes

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government says significant progress is being made in relocating families displaced by the 9–10 June disaster, which left hundreds homeless, particularly in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts.

Relocation operations have resumed in Mnquma Local Municipality in Amathole and King Sabata Dalindyebo in OR Tambo. While permanent housing is still being planned, the focus is on building and allocating Temporary Residential Units, or TRUs, in priority areas.

In Mnquma, 28 TRUs near Butterworth are ready for occupation, with three more to be completed tomorrow and the remaining 89 by 7 August. Thirty-two families currently housed in care centres will be prioritised for relocation.

In King Sabata Dalindyebo, over 470 TRUs will be installed, with contributions from the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the National Department of Human Settlements, and civil society. Land has been secured in several areas close to essential services, with contractors already on site at KwaLink.

The province says work is being done in consultation with traditional leaders, landowners, and communities to ensure transparent processes, while planning is under way for formal township establishment with access to water, sanitation, and electricity.

Displaced families continue to receive meals and groceries, with the South African Social Security Agency preparing Social Relief of Distress vouchers to help them settle into their new homes.

Cape hippo finds a new home in Plett

The City of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Management branch has successfully relocated a four-year-old hippo bull from the False Bay Nature Reserve to the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve.

The 17-hour operation, completed yesterday morning, involved months of planning and required a specially built capture boma, a crane, a flatbed truck, veterinary expertise, and experienced staff.

The animal was captured late on 22 July and transported overnight to reduce stress, arriving safely at 08:30.The move was necessary to prevent potential conflict with other males and to avoid the risk of the hippo dispersing into surrounding communities.

The Plettenberg Bay reserve offers ample space, water resources, and an existing hippo population.

Since arrival, the animal has been kept in a separate dam for monitoring before joining the resident pod.

This marks the fourth successful hippo translocation by the City in the past decade, underscoring its commitment to wildlife management and conservation.

Brazilian National Arrested at OR Tambo with R4.2 Million Worth of Cocaine

JOHANNESBURG – A 25-year-old Brazilian drug trafficker was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, after arriving from São Paulo via Doha.

Acting on intelligence, a joint team comprising Crime Intelligence Counter Narcotics Intel Gauteng, ORTIA SAPS Tactical Team, the Border Management Authority (BMA), and private security intercepted the suspect shortly after landing.

A search of his luggage uncovered about 10kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R4.2 million. The suspect was also taken for a medical examination to determine whether he had swallowed cocaine-filled pellets.

SAPS says the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational drug syndicates, with more than 25 drug traffickers apprehended at this port of entry since the start of the year.

Safety tips for shopping centres and malls

The South African Police Service (SAPS) remains committed to ensuring the safety of shoppers at malls and shopping centres. As such, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and to take the following safety precautions into consideration:

-Avoid seeking assistance from strangers at ATMs. Use ATMs located in well-lit and busy areas, and always remain aware of your surroundings.

-Do not display cash publicly and avoid carrying large sums of money.

-Keep personal belongings such as handbags and wallets secure at all times.

-Stay in well-lit and populated areas, particularly when alone. Avoid isolated or secluded spots.

-Remain alert and limit distractions, such as using a cellphone while walking.

-Never leave bags or valuables unattended in shopping carts, on chairs, or in public spaces.

-If you feel unsafe, do not hesitate to seek help from mall security or store personnel.

-Report any suspicious behaviour immediately to mall security or the SAPS. You can also contact SAPS via the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.

All reports will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
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