What happened
Heavy rainfall hit Gauteng on Monday afternoon, flooding roads across Johannesburg and Germiston and stranding motorists in rising water. The South African Weather Service had issued a Level 2 warning for storms in Gauteng, the North West, and the Mpumalanga Highveld.
Sections of Johann Rissik Road, Main Reef Road, and May Deep Road in Germiston were submerged. Two bridges in the Germiston CBD on Victoria and Meyer streets were also affected.
Why it matters
Gauteng’s ageing stormwater infrastructure struggles to cope with heavy downpours, turning routine commutes into dangerous situations. One vehicle became trapped on Main Reef Road after the driver attempted to cross floodwaters.
Highway accidents
Several accidents were reported across the city’s major routes. A crash before the Rivonia Road off-ramp on the N1 southbound closed the centre lane. An accident before Comaro Street on the N12 eastbound closed the right lane. A third crash at the Gordon Road interchange on the N1 northbound also affected traffic flow.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency urged residents to avoid flood-prone zones and to monitor official weather updates. Emergency services responded to multiple incidents across the affected areas.
Wider storm system
The storms that hit Gauteng formed part of a broader weather system affecting several provinces. The Weather Service issued separate Level 4 warnings for KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, where more severe conditions including heavy hail and damaging winds were expected.
Residents in low-lying areas were advised to remain indoors where possible and to avoid crossing flooded bridges or roads on foot.