Tshwane’s emergency services on high-alert amid possible storms

The Tshwane metro’s emergency services department is on high-alert after a storm warning was issued for parts of Pretoria for the rest of the week.

The department will respond to life-threatening emergencies and deal with the possible impact of the forecasted storms, according to Tshwane EMS spokesperson Charles Mabaso.

“According to the SA Weather Service, scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over Gauteng until, at least, Sunday, 6 December,” he said.

Among the multiple flooding incidents in parts of the north of Pretoria was one in which a car got stuck and floated on water along Amendelboom Street in Doornpoort on 20 November.

“The occupant of the vehicle managed to escape unharmed, but the road was barricaded and temporarily closed,” Mabaso said.

In another incident, firefighters responded to a house which had reportedly flooded along Marija Street in Annlin.

“Upon arrival, they found the water was knee-deep and part of the house’s roof collapsed,” he said.

He said recent storms also hit susceptible roads and low-lying bridges throughout Pretoria, which made travelling difficult.

“There is also a risk of trees being uprooted by the wind since the soil is already wet in many places,” Mabaso said.

Their disaster management teams were, however, working with the relevant departments at the metro to coordinate the implementation of the metro’s flood incident management plan.

“An operational storm water and bridge maintenance plan in various parts of Tshwane by the roads and department is underway,” he said.

The plan included cleaning and carting litter away, unblocking sluice gate channels, cleaning pipes by super-sucker and cleaning silt around main storm water outlets.

He further called on residents to avoid driving on flooded low-water bridges as they were risking their lives and damaging their vehicles.

“We call upon residents to be careful and think safety first this rainy season,” Mabaso said

Residents can dial the 107 toll-free number from a landline or cell phone to enable emergency response and co-ordinate any other necessary response during storms.