Apartheid's Weather Legacy: How Climate Disasters Hit Black Communities Hardest
As a cut-off low weather system barrels into the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the South African Weather Service has issued urgent warnings. But for the Black townships and rural settlements that still bear the scars of colonial spatial planning, these storms are not just a weather event. They are a stark reminder of how apartheid's geography continues to expose our people to the harshest impacts of climate change.
The system, expected to bring disruptive rain, snow, and damaging waves from Tuesday through Thursday, is forecast to hit hardest along the coast between East London and Port Edward, and over the high-ground of the Eastern Cape. An orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain has been issued for these areas, with flooding of bridges, roads, and settlements expected. An orange level 5 warning for disruptive snow over the north-eastern high-ground of the Eastern Cape warns that some communities may be temporarily cut off.
These are not abstract risks. They are the lived reality of Black South Africans who were forced into flood-prone, low-lying land under apartheid's Group Areas Act. The legacy of that dispossession means that today, when the rains come, it is our townships and informal settlements that drown first. It is our rural communities, still without proper infrastructure, that are isolated by snow.
What the weather warnings mean for our communities
The South African Weather Service has issued a range of impact-based warnings. The orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain along the coast and adjacent interior between East London and Port Edward signals a high risk of flooding that could damage property and infrastructure. The orange level 5 warning for disruptive snow over the extreme north-eastern high-ground of the Eastern Cape warns of traffic disruptions and potential isolation of communities.
Yellow level 4 and level 2 warnings cover disruptive rain and snow across KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. A yellow level 1 warning for damaging coastal wind and waves between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas is also in effect. In the SAWS colour-coded system, yellow indicates a moderate risk requiring caution, while orange signals a higher-risk impact demanding increased attention and preparation.
How apartheid's spatial planning made Black communities more vulnerable
The connection between apartheid's spatial planning and climate vulnerability is not accidental. Under the Group Areas Act, Black South Africans were systematically removed from well-located, high-ground areas and relocated to floodplains, wetlands, and other marginal land. These areas are now the most exposed to extreme weather events.
In Durban, for example, the 2022 floods that killed over 400 people disproportionately affected Black townships like Umlazi and informal settlements along riverbanks. The same pattern is repeating with this system. The orange level 6 warning zone includes areas where many Black communities still live without adequate drainage, stormwater systems, or solid housing.
What must be done to protect our people
The SAWS advisory warns farmers to take precautionary measures, but the real need is for government action. The cut-off low system is expected to clear by Thursday, but the damage will linger. We need immediate relief for affected communities, but also long-term investment in climate-resilient infrastructure in Black areas.
This means retrofitting informal settlements with proper drainage, relocating communities from flood-prone zones to safe land, and ensuring that early warning systems reach every household in isiXhosa, isiZulu, and other African languages. It means ending the colonial pattern of neglecting Black infrastructure.
Provincial weather breakdown
Gauteng: Fine and cool. Mpumalanga: Partly cloudy in the east, otherwise fine and cool, but warm in the Lowveld. Limpopo: Partly cloudy in the east, otherwise fine and cool to warm. North West: Fine and cool. Free State: Fine and cold to cool, becoming partly cloudy in places. Northern Cape: Morning fog along the coast, otherwise fine, cool to cold, but partly cloudy in the south-east, with isolated showers and thundershowers, but scattered in the extreme south-east, where it will be cloudy. Western Cape: Fine and warm over the extreme western parts, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to cold with isolated showers and rain. It will be cloudy in the east. Western half of the Eastern Cape: Very cold in places over the interior, otherwise cloudy and cold with widespread showers and rain, but scattered in the north-west. Light snow is expected in places in the north-eastern high ground. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Cloudy and cold with widespread showers and thundershowers, but general showers and rain along the coast and adjacent interior. It will be very cold with snow in the northern high ground. KwaZulu-Natal: Cloudy and cool to cold, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers, but widespread in the south.
FAQ: What you need to know about the weather system
Why are Black communities more at risk from this weather?
Apartheid's spatial planning forced Black South Africans into flood-prone, low-lying areas with poor infrastructure. These areas are now the most vulnerable to extreme weather events like the current cut-off low system.
What should I do if I live in a warning zone?
Stay informed through local radio and community networks. Avoid flooded roads and bridges. Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, and documents. If you are in a high-risk area, consider moving to higher ground or a community shelter.
How long will the bad weather last?
The cut-off low system is expected to clear from the west by Thursday. However, flooding and snow impacts may persist for several days after the rain stops.
What can we demand from government?
We must demand immediate relief for affected communities, long-term investment in climate-resilient infrastructure in Black areas, and early warning systems in African languages. The legacy of apartheid cannot be an excuse for inaction.