Floods bigger risk on roads

CRISIS RISES: ERODED SURFACES, POTHOLES, MISSING MANHOLE COVERS, BLOCKED DRAINS

- Citizen reporter

STRANDED. A taxi driver stuck in a dip on Main Reef Road in Germiston on Sunday, after heavy rain at the weekend. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

(Nigel Sibanda)

The South African Weather Service's recent level 9 severe weather warning has again highlighted how quickly the country’s roads can turn into danger zones when heavy rain sets in.

Though large-scale floods tend to dominate the headlines, a quieter but more persistent threat is reshaping South Africa’s road safety landscape: localised flooding.

These smaller, yet increasingly frequent events are exposing motorists, infrastructure and the insurance industry to risks still widely underestimated.

Data from the South African Insurance Association’s Insurance Data System paints a stark picture. Since 2020, non-life insurers have processed at least 7 000 weather-related motor claims each year, with total payouts exceeding R1.6 billion between 2020 and 2024.

The peak was in 2021, when more than 14 000 motor claims were linked to extreme weather.

Behind the numbers lies a clear trend - worsening weather volatility is placing mounting financial pressure on insurers and leaving motorists vulnerable.