Pretoria:The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several weather warnings as the country prepares for special votes in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
According to South African Government News Agency, the SAWS has issued a Yellow Level 4 Warning for severe thunderstorms in specific regions. These include the extreme south-central parts of Limpopo, the highveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga (excluding the extreme south-west), and the western and north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. The thunderstorms, which may include heavy downpours, hail, and excessive lightning, could result in flooding and damage to infrastructure and settlements.
Additionally, a Yellow Level 2 Warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms along the coast and adjacent interior of KwaZulu-Natal, between Port Edward and Mtubatuba. These conditions are expected to bring heavy downpours, strong gusty winds, hail, and lightning, leading to localized flooding and damage to infrastructure.
A Yellow Level 1 Warning is also in effect for the extreme north-eastern escarpment areas in the Eastern Cape, eastern parts of Free State, southern parts of Gauteng, and the extreme south-western parts of Mpumalanga. The anticipated severe thunderstorms in these areas could cause localized flooding, damage to property and temporary structures, and disruptions to power supply and communications.
These weather warnings coincide with the announcement from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that it is prepared to facilitate special voting on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the main Voting Day on Wednesday, 4 November. A total of 2,655,067 voters have been approved for special votes, catering to those unable to reach voting stations due to physical infirmity or unavailability.