Be vigilant when using a heater, Joburg EMS warns after three deaths during cold snap
Johannesburg emergency management services have warned Gauteng residents to exercise caution while using heating devices following three deaths in Soweto over the weekend.
Heavy rain and severe thundershowers have been forecast across South Africa this week, with potential risks of flooding, hail, and strong winds.
Snowfall has already been observed in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Lesotho.
Gauteng residents have been warned to be vigilant when using heating devices during the cold snap after three deaths were reported over the weekend.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said three people died in two separate incidents in Soweto over the weekend after they left heating devices on.
In the first incident in the early hours of Sunday, two children, aged 6 and 8, were killed when their home went up in flames.
In the second incident on Sunday night, one person died of smoke inhalation.
'When it's cold, people resort to using heating devices to keep warm. Because these incidents happened at night, we believe they were sleeping when the fires broke out,' Radebe-Kgiba said on Monday.
No major incidents reported over night,this morning due to Extreme Winter Weather Conditions @CityofJoburgZA residents are urged to continue exercise caution when using heating devices not to leave them unattended while in use to prevent fire incidents at home. @CoJPublicSafety pic.twitter.com/402CB6rEZa
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) June 9, 2025
Despite the overnight showers, Radebe-Kgiba said no rain-related incidents were reported by Monday morning.
'We've received alerts of cold weather and possible snowfall in Gauteng, and we will remain on high alert [during this time],' she added
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) predicted isolated showers and thundershowers - which could become severe - in the southern parts of the province on Monday.
It is expected to be accompanied by heavy downpours, which could lead to flooding, hail, and damaging winds.
The SAWS further predicted a 30% to 60% chance of showers and thundershowers in the south of the country - increasing to 80% in the southeast - on Tuesday, with possible snow on the escarpment.
It predicted 30% rain and showers along the southeast coast on Wednesday.
Snow has also been reported at Wapadsberg Pass in the Eastern Cape, Tulbagh, Paarl, and Worcester in the Western Cape, and Lesotho.
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