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Tuesday, May 12, 2026

UPDATE: Six weather related deaths confirmed in the Western Cape

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The Provincial Health Department has confirmed at least six weather-related deaths in the Western Cape since severe storms and flooding began last week.

 

Provincial health authorities say three people died after trees fell on them in Knysna, Kenilworth and George.

 

In the first recorded death, Knysna auxiliary social worker Lauren Fredericks died on 6 May, as she was on her way to conduct assessments of residents who were evacuated due to the adverse weather conditions. Shortly after stopping, a tree fell on her car.

 

In the second reported incident, early on Monday morning, 11 May, a person died after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Tennant Road in Kenilworth.

 

Local councillor Mikhail Manuel says emergency services, SAPS, Law Enforcement and City Parks teams responded quickly to the scene.

 

The person who passed away was reportedly a passenger in an e-hailing vehicle. The driver escaped without injuries but was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks.

 

Later on Monday, Southern Cape police confirmed a 63-year-old woman died in Blanco, George, after a tree fell onto her vehicle in Montagu Street.

 

Police say she had arrived at her workplace and was parking when the incident occurred. She was reportedly an employee at Fancourt.

 

A fourth person died in Worcester after reportedly falling off a roof, while a fifth fatality was reported in Genadendal when a tree fell over.

 

And in Meiringspoort near Klaarstroom, a person is believed to have drowned amid the flooding over the weekend.

 

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Presidency said it was made aware of at least 10 fatalities linked to severe weather events across several provinces. No further details were given.

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his deep sadness at the loss of lives, saying his thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the people who have died.

 

The severe weather has also resulted in damage to infrastructure and roads, affecting tens of thousands of people. 

 

Authorities continue to urge residents to remain cautious as wet and windy conditions persist across parts of the province on Tuesday.

 

The rainy weather is set to subside by Wednesday, 13 May.

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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