Gauteng weather wreaks havoc

2003-06-06 12:30

Johannesburg - Wet slippery conditions with mist caused numerous road accidents in and around Johannesburg on Friday, metro police said.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said: "Between 07:00 and 09:00 we had more than a dozen accidents.

"Perhaps the most serious involved a minibus taxi carrying schoolchildren which collided with a car at Nasrec and Main Reef roads.

"The man and woman in the car were injured and five schoolgirls in the taxi were injured and taken to Garden City clinic. Two others were treated for shock."

A pedestrian was taken to Johannesburg hospital after being run over at Nugget and Hancock streets in Hillbrow and a reckless driving docket was opened.

Minnaar said three men were slightly injured in a crash at the Crown interchange on the M1 north and the driver of a Fiat Uno was taken to Garden City clinic with injuries after colliding with a minibus taxi at Rifle and Xavier streets south of the city.

Fender benders were plentiful from Sandton to City Deep and Minnaar said: "The way people are driving in this weather, the panel beaters and everyone in the motor industry will be having a busy weekend."

Pretoria weather bureau spokesperson Evert Scholtz told Sapa: "The weather over the past 24 hours was unusual for a summer rainfall area but we do get a little rain every winter."

The present conditions were caused by an upper air trough that was moving away to KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland, he said.

"There may be showers during the evening rush hour today (Friday)," Scholtz said, "but by the weekend it will be the cold clear bright and sunny weather that everyone thinks of as Gauteng in winter".

- SAPA