Partly cloudy skies cover most parts of the country, after heavy rains, ushering in the New Year.
A temporary bridge and roadway (D481) connecting Ekulindeni and Mooiplaas, in Mpumalanga, has had to be closed, until further notice, due to severe damage caused by heavy rainfall.
There is no alternative road or detour available.
The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality advised all community members not to even try to travel between Ekulindeni and Mooiplaas, until the repair work is completed and an official reopening notice is issued.
“Attempting to use any nearby paths to cross the river, is extremely dangerous and is strictly prohibited” said the Municipality in a public notice.
There are reports of a tornado which struck in the town of Middleburg, on Thursday afternoon, around 17:45, destroying a farm.
Residents also shared videos of a big hailstorm in the Honingnestkrans area, in Pretoria.
Services including water supply and electricity were hampered by rains.
Eskom’s Daphne Mokwena, said on New Year’s Eve, ongoing adverse weather, has led to a sharp increase in faults across Eskom’s supply areas nationwide.
As a result, there were major disruptions in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and the Free State.
She also said Eskom teams had largely addressed the faults in the Eastern Cape, and are on the ground repairing damaged infrastructure in Tzaneen and Mashashane in Limpopo.
“These conditions are placing significant strain on response times, particularly in areas where access is restricted due to flooding, damaged infrastructure, or unsafe terrain.”
Picture: Supplied