Climate shift hits home

SAIA WARNING: FLOODING, LIGHTNING, EROSION NOW DAILY THREATS

- Ina Opperman

South Africa's current summer has left many consumers wondering why they ever wished away winter.

Instead of sunshine, the season has brought storms, flooding and lightning, with very little respite in between.

For homeowners, the message is clear storm-proofing is no longer optional.

Themba Palagangwe, general manager for governance and transformation at the South African Insurance Association (SAIA), says the country is experiencing a noticeable shift in weather patterns.

He says hot, dry summers have given way to unprecedented conditions marked by frequent and extreme rainfall.

"The shift is no longer an abstract forecast but a daily reality, with the potential to cause significant damage to infrastructure and property," he warns.

Media reports from every province detail the damage roads washed away in the Eastern Cape, homes battered in Gauteng and infrastructure compromised nationwide.

Extreme weather poses risks to personal safety, vehicles and property.