The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of a cut-off low weather system that is expected to bring cold and wet weather to large parts of South Africa from Thursday into the weekend.
These conditions are expected to bring bitterly cold conditions, and heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding and snow in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal from Thursday.

Widespread rainfall can be expected over the southern and central parts of the country from Thursday onwards, with light snowfalls likely over the mountainous, high-lying areas of the Western and Eastern Cape, spreading to the Lesotho Drakensberg regions by the weekend, where heavier falls are anticipated.

“Moreover, there is also the possibility of isolated severe storms, accompanied by strong winds and large amounts of small hail over the central and eastern interior, however [we] will issue detailed radar-based warnings in this regard, should the need arise,” said Saws.

Figure 1: 24-hour rainfall (mm) for South Africa on May 20 and 21, 2022. PHOTO: Global Forecast System, NCEP (2022)

The weather office said the cold front will move over the south-west coast of the Western Cape by Wednesday afternoon, with rain spreading along the south coast and adjacent interior in the evening.
Saws said gusty winds of 45-55 km/h can be expected ahead of the cold front over the interior and south coast of the Western Cape as well as the interior of the Northern Cape. These conditions may enhance the risk for veldt fire development.
“Warm to hot conditions are expected ahead of the cold front (due to offshore Berg wind conditions) especially along the south coast of the Western Cape and the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape. The upper-air trough will intensify during Thursday, causing widespread rainfall over the eastern parts of the Western Cape and the western parts of the Eastern Cape.”
A warning for disruptive rainfall, resulting in localised flooding of susceptible roads and bridges as well as flooding in informal settlements, can therefore be expected in the aforementioned areas, spreading to the central and south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape during Thursday, said Saws.
Heavy snowfall in KZN, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State
Due to the lowering of atmospheric freezing levels, combined with abundant moisture in the lower layers of the atmosphere, Saws said snowfalls as deep as 2 to 5 cm can be expected from Thursday night over the eastern high-lying areas of the Western Cape, spreading to the western high lying areas of the Eastern Cape, the extreme south-eastern high-lying areas of the Northern Cape and the southern high ground of the Free State during Friday morning.
“Heavier snowfall of 10 to 20 cm can be expected over the north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape, the Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal and the Lesotho mountains from Friday evening into Saturday morning.
“Thunderstorms, combined with strong, gusty surface winds are expected over the central interior by Friday afternoon, spreading to Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal in the evening and parts of Limpopo by Saturday,” said the weather office.

Figure 2: Forecast rainfall probability (percentage) for May 18, 19 and 20, 2022, as well as the corresponding Impact-Based Warning for May 19. PHOTO: SAWS

Saws said warnings in this regard will be issued if necessary.
KZN residents urged to prepare for flooding
Due to the pre-existing condition of water-saturated soils in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Saws said rainfall amounts exceeding 20 mm are likely to lead to localised flooding. Residents are urged to take the necessary precautions to prepare for such conditions.
“Bitterly cold conditions are expected to move in over the western and southern parts of the country during Thursday, spreading to the central and eastern parts by Friday and Saturday.
“Maximum temperatures are not expected to exceed 14°C over the interior of the country, with maximum temperatures barely able to reach 8°C over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, the south-western high ground of KwaZulu-Natal and the south-eastern and extreme southern Free State during Friday and Saturday. Small stock farmers should be advised of these conditions and take the necessary precautions,” said the weather office.

https://www.news24.com/witness/news/kzn/weather-warning-widespread-rainfall-snow-and-flooding-expected-in-kzn-and-neighbouring-provinces-20220517

According to the SA Students' Congress (Sasco), a white student broke into a black student's room at Huis Marais residence and urinated on his belongings.

Sasco said the black student was asleep on Sunday morning when the white student entered his room and urinated on his desk, books and laptops.

Stellenbosch University campus.

Getty ImagesPHOTO: Getty Images

Stellenbosch University confirmed the incident and said it would release a detailed statement.
The university's student representative council (SRC) chairperson, Viwe Kobokana, said a meeting had been scheduled with the victim and university.
The SRC will issue a statement after the meeting on Monday, she said.