Photo: Screenshot/Video/Facebook/OliviaMaasdorp
In the latest news in South Africa on Thursday 23 December 2021, a sand tornado and storm swept through parts of the Northern Cape.
Photo: Screenshot/Video/Facebook/OliviaMaasdorp
Are you keeping up with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa? We’ve got the news you really need to know on Thursday 23 December 2021.
It has been a bizarre weather day in South Africa as a sand tornado and storm, caused by strong winds, swept through parts of the Northern Cape, and it looked like a scene out of a Mad Max movie.
Meanwhile, vehicles and houses were damaged while roads were flooded when hailstones pelted down during a severe hailstorm in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
In some other great news…South Africa has also passed the peak of its Omicron-driven fourth wave!
This comes barely a month after the Omicron variant was flagged by the scientific community of South Africa.
On Wednesday, South Africa recorded more than 21 000 new COVID-19 cases, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 69 014 tests conducted over the past 24 hours represent a positivity rate of 30,6 percent, up from Monday’s 27,6 percent.
Poffader and surroundings appeared hazy on Tuesday when a cloud of dust and sand engulfed parts of the region. Several residents whipped out their cameras to capture the moment.
Although sandstorms may be unfamiliar to many South Africans, locals in the Northern Cape have become accustomed to them.
Vehicles and houses were damaged while roads were flooded when hail stones pelted down during a severe hailstorm in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
The NSPCA urged the public to please report animals being kept outdoors without any shelter to your local SPCA.
“If you are unable to keep your pet indoors, please ensure that you have provided adequate shelter for your pet to protect themselves from the elements,” the SPCA said.
Hail can cause billions of rands of damage to structures, crops, and livestock.
Barely a month after the Omicron variant was flagged by the scientific community of South Africa, the fourth wave of COVID-19 seems to be heading towards a conclusion – after infections officially peaked NATIONALLY.
However, the doomsday predictions made by some simply have not materialised. Despite a slight reduction in efficacy, vaccines still protect strongly against the risk of severe infection. Omicron itself, meanwhile, appears to result in more mild symptoms and outcomes for those who come down with it.
The latest figures on the road deaths, which were released by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, show that fatalities have risen in five provinces with exception of the Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo.
The breakdown on road deaths is as follows in these provinces:
The motorist who was caught on camera driving recklessly on Moloto Road in Pretoria was arrested on Wednesday afternoon, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.
This comes after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, earlier on Wednesday, said the driver who has been identified will be arrested and be held accountable for his recklessness on the road.
“I am pleased to report that the man who was recorded driving a Range Rover recklessly and protruding from a driver’s window has been identified by investigators from the Road Traffic Management Corporation [RTMC].
“His arrest is imminent and he will face the full might of the law for his unacceptable behaviour that places the lives of other road users in harm’s way,” he said
Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.
Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates here.
Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Thursday 23 December.