Thunderstorms threaten South Africa special voting
Severe weather warnings issued for parts of Gauteng and Free State for November 2 and 3.
Special voting in South Africa is underway on November 2 and 3, but severe thunderstorms could disrupt electricity and communication services. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for parts of Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape, citing risks of localised flooding and property damage.
SAWS warned that lightning strikes and strong winds from the storms may damage electricity infrastructure and interrupt mobile network services. Over 2.6 million voters have applied for special voting, with some casting ballots at stations and others receiving home visits.
Voters are advised to monitor official weather updates from SAWS and announcements from the IEC. Residents in affected areas should also check municipal warnings and report any service outages to providers. The weather warning is subject to change as conditions evolve.
Why it mattersOver 2.6 million South Africans applying for special voting may face disruptions to electricity and communication services due to severe thunderstorms.