As the country braces for plunging temperatures, health authorities are warning that the season’s chill comes with hidden dangers, and children are paying the highest price.
Freezing temperatures and rainy weather
A sharp drop in temperatures across Gauteng and heavy wind and rainfall in the Western Cape driven by the cold front from the Atlantic, has prompted renewed calls from health authorities, for people to take precautions against the weather.
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Weather data from the South African Weather Service shows that cities like, Bloemfontein, Sutherland and Pretoria and are expected to dip to as low as 7°C this week.
Johannesburg is tracking even colder, sitting at 15°C with overnight lows forecast to reach 4°C.
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Inland cities are predominantly sunny but bitterly cold conditions at night with temperatures in the low twenties during the day and single digits at night.
In Gauteng, the MEC of Health Faith Mazibuko recently called on residents to exercise far greater caution this winter, warning that burn-related incidents consistently spike during the colder months due to many households relying on paraffin stoves, open fires, candles, hot water and electrical appliances to keep warm.
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Feature Image: Supplied
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