Current warning: Western Cape
Updated: 15/07/2010 04:00:06
Warning: Take appropriate action
Subject: Very cold, snow and heavy seas
Detail:...

Warnings for today (15/07/2010): 1. Very cold conditions are expected on the high ground areas of the Western Cape. 2. Snowfalls are expected on the high ground of the Western Cape in the morning. 3. Heavy seas with wave heights in excess of 5m are expected north of Cape Agulhas, moderating from afternoon

Thinus Dippenaar - Die Burger
Cape Town - Inclement weather conditions on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least four people in the Western Cape.

Wet roads in the province resulted in several accidents, including a fatal crash near Piketberg.

A truck collided head-on with the car on the N7 near De Hoek at about 14:10.

At least 18 accidents

Two passengers in the car, Johan Swart and an unidentified boy, died in the accident. Deirdre Swart and a boy, Deon Swart, were seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals.

Another passenger, a 7-year-old girl, whose name is not known, was admitted to the Milnerton Medi-Clinic with serious injuries. Both her legs and an arm were broken and she sustained internal as well as head injuries, according to Charl Nieuwoudt, rescue manager of West Coast emergency services.

The relationship between the deceased and the injured could not be established on Wednesday night.

The truck driver was arrested and will appear on Thursday in the Piketberg Magistrate's Court on a charge of culpable homicide, said Captain FC van Wyk.

In 18 other car accidents, an unidentified person died and five were injured.

In another incident, Jonathan Hainey, 43, drowned in Lotus River at about 14:30 on Wednesday when he tried to save his dog, Boelie, from a storm water pipe.

A relative, Francis Jaftha, said he became entangled in the refuse in the drain. "He said he was going for a walk. Later Boelie ran back home. Then we heard he (Jonathan) had died. It was his beloved dog. They went walking everywhere together. Boelie protected him."

Cold conditions to continue

The inclement weather in the Western Cape is expected to continue on Thursday.

According to the weather office, Wednesday's warning of extremely cold weather remains in place. Icy weather, cold conditions and snow are expected in higher lying regions of the Western and Northern Cape.

On Thursday morning there is a 30% chance of rain and thundershowers, which will clear up during the morning. Snow is expected on the Matroosberg and Swartberg Mountains.

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes of the City of Cape Town's disaster management unit warned that snow leads to extremely cold conditions, which affects especially the homeless.

Blanché de Vries reported that for farmers, however, the rain was good news.

Agri Western Cape spokesperson Portia Adams said the cold conditions were welcomed by deciduous fruit farmers.

- Die Burger