The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) said five people have lost their lives since the weekend in three separate fire incidents.
The EMS said the incidents happened in Mayfair, Mapetla and Braamfischer, as the residents were trying to keep warm during the extreme cold conditions.
The deceased, including two children between the ages of six and eight, died from smoke inhalation, others were found dead after a fire ravaged their house.
The deaths come as the EMS has cautioned residents, especially those in informal settlements, to exercise caution when using heating devices.
“Residents are urged to continue to exercise caution when using heating devices, like heaters, paraffin stoves, braziers, or imbawula.
Do not leave them unattended while in use, so that we can be able to prevent fire incidents which might occur.
From our side as EMS, we remain on high alert monitoring all seven regions of the city, especially our vulnerable communities, our informal settlements throughout the city, to ensure that we are able to respond to any emergencies which might occur due to these extremely cold conditions,” said EMS spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi.
In addition, the EMS said in April 2025 alone, it responded to 100 fire incidents, many of which occurred in informal settlements and were preventable.
The weather conditions come as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of an intense cut-off low system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, affecting most parts of the country until the end of this week.
Meanwhile, communities across the North West have been urged to stay vigilant amid severe weather and strong, fire-spreading winds.
“Freezing weather is upon us, an increasing dependence on indoor heating techniques like paraffin stoves, heaters and open fires are likely to be the order of the day and community members are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution to avoid disastrous domestic and veld fires.
Families are encouraged not to leave children unattended near open flames or heating devices, and to practice safe fire behaviours during the winter season.
These conditions significantly increase the potential for uncontrolled fires, both in domestic settings and across open veld,” read a statement from the North West Provincial Government.
In the Eastern Cape, the Provincial Government has deployed disaster management teams across affected areas in response to the cold conditions, to provide critical support to communities impacted by heavy rains, strong winds, and snowfall.
The SAWS has issued an Orange alert level 6, warning of disruptive snowfall in high-lying regions of the province, potential road closures, flooding, and possible power interruptions.
In KwaZulu-Natal, authorities have closed the N2 due to snowfall around Kokstad and Port Shepstone.
“To save lives, we have decided to completely close the road between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg as well as R603 – Tacoma to Reit.
Our message to motorists and Snow Chasers is that prevention is better than cure.
We therefore urge motorists and general members of the public to avoid that area at all costs by delaying their trips leading to Kokstad as trucks are already stuck and creating huge congestion,” said Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma.
The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, said the SANDF has been placed on standby, to intervene in any emergencies that might occur.
