JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng remains in the grip of a biting cold front that has brought plummeting temperatures, snowfall in parts of the country, and alerts for localised flooding.
According to the South African Weather Service, Tuesday marked the coldest day of the year in the province.
Conditions are expected to ease slightly from Wednesday, but the risk of fires and weather-related incidents remains high.
Zimasa Mbwezu, CoGTA Head of Communications, said that while residents try to stay warm, caution is critical.
"We know in our townships people need to keep warm because it's cold, but we need to intensify our awareness in that area," she said.
"We don't want to have a loss of life because of unattended fires. When you start to make fire, make sure it's in a safe and contained area."
Mbwezu added that the winter fire season is officially underway and urged farmers and landowners to begin creating firebreaks immediately to prevent runaway veld fires.
Fire safety tips during cold and dry conditions
• Only make fires in designated, enclosed areas.
• Never leave a fire unattended, especially overnight or when the wind picks up.
• Extinguish all flames completely before going to sleep or leaving the area.
• Keep flammable materials (like paraffin and wood) safely stored, especially around children.
• Don’t burn waste near homes or dry vegetation.