Contrasting Weather Patterns: Drought and Rain in South Africa

“You catch the flu time and again. Once the weather gets this bad, guaranteed, we get sick” - Calvin Takesure, South African resident On the weekend of the 21st of September 2024, several provinces of South Africa were hit by a heavy snowstorm. Motorists travelling on the N3, one of the national roads towards the coastal city of Durban, were stuck in traffic and forced to sleep in their vehicles. Tragically, two people lost their lives as a result of hypothermia. At the same time, other parts of the country experienced freezing weather conditions, leaving people who either live or work on the streets severely affected. All of this is happening at a time when Southern Africa is experiencing a devastating drought. Today Alan Kasujja attempts to understand why the region is hit by extremely dry and wet weather conditions simultaneously. Guests: Lehlohonolo Thobela, Sanele Nkosi, Calvin Takesure and Pholane Polite