Government prepared for Dineo

South Africa set to experience severe storms and heavy rains starting from today until Sunday. 

"The cyclone will affect Mpumalanga, the extreme northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. This will mostly affect the Kruger National Park, Ehlanzeni, Vhembe, Mopani and Waterberg District Municipalities. The eastern parts of Limpopo may also experience high levels of rainfall on Friday, estimated at 200 mm over a 24-hour period," says Radebe.

Radebe says cabinet has brought up to date on the cyclone - which has since been downgraded to a tropical storm - and the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and the National Joint Operations Centre (NATJOC), comprising of various government departments and institutions, have assessed the situation.

"This multi-sectoral approach will assist where the need arises to ensure safety of communities and to minimise the impact," says Radebe.

Radebe says government is appealing to all affected communities to take extra care ahead of this coming storm. 

"Communities are discouraged from crossing flooded roads, bridges and rivers. We also urge parents, care givers and guardians to ensure the safety of their children during the storms. Communities must work together to ensure the safety of people," says Radebe.

Head of the National Disaster Management Centre in the country, Mmaphaka Tau says several plans are in place.

"Officials have been deployed on the ground to make sure they assist municipalities in raising awareness in communities and making sure communities are safe from risk," says Tau.

Tshepo Ngubeni from South African Weather Service says something like Cyclone Dineo is quite uncommon. 

He says we are usually protected by Madagascar.

"If weather systems enter the Mozambique Channel, the chances are high that they will retain their intensity, move over Mozambique and ultimately move towards the west and affect South Africa," says Ngubeni.