The South African Weather Service has warned of very high fire danger conditions over parts of the country on Friday. 

“Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the extreme north-eastern parts of the Northern Cape, in places in the North West, north-eastern and central parts of the Free State, the north-eastern part of the Eastern Cape, northern parts of KwaZulu Natal as well as over parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga,” the forecaster said. 

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has placed teams on standby for any incidents. 

Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi further warned people to remain vigilant.

“Given the severe weather conditions, any open flame or discarded item can ignite a devastating fire,” he warned.

“We urge our communities to refrain from making fires in open areas and to ensure that all fires, especially those used for cooking or clearing land, are completely extinguished.”

Areas expected to be affected:

• Abaqulusi

• Alfred Duma

• Big Five Hlabisa

• Dannhauser

• Dundee (Endumeni)

• Jozini

• Msinga

• Mthonjaneni

• Newcastle

• Nkandla

• Nongoma

• Nquthu

• uLundi

• Pongolo

Buthelezi further appealed to motorists to avoid discarding cigarette butts along the roadside and highlighted the dangers of leaving glass bottles in the veld, which can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires.

“We call on all residents to be the eyes and ears on the ground. Please report any smoke or fires immediately to your local fire department or emergency services so they can be contained before they spread,” he said.

Wild waves warning

A yellow level 2 warning has been issued for the Northern and Western Cape, where waves between four and six metres are expected from tonight, building up to seven metres in places by Saturday.

North-westerly winds of up to 65 kilometres per hour, with gusts as high as 75 kilometres per hour, are forecast between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas before spreading eastward to Plettenberg Bay.

Authorities warn that the dangerous combination of high swells and strong winds could damage coastal infrastructure, disrupt small harbours, and create hazardous conditions for boats and beachgoers.

The broader weather outlook shows a sharp contrast across the country.

Cooler, wetter conditions are predicted for the Western Cape and southern interior, while warm to hot weather is expected in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, further heightening the risk of veld fires.

Emergency services across the provinces are on high alert as authorities urge the public to act with caution. With both fire and wave warnings in effect, communities are being reminded to remain vigilant to protect lives, property and the environment.

IOL News

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