Johannesburg Storm Crushes Taxi Under Fallen Tree as Level 5 Alert Hits Gauteng

• A severe storm swept across Johannesburg, uprooting trees and causing widespread damage across the city
• The South African Weather Service issued an Orange Level 5 warning as multiple provinces faced flooding, hail and damaging winds
• Emergency crews were deployed across Gauteng as roads closed and key intersections became blocked

A powerful storm tore through Johannesburg on 5 August 2026, leaving a trail of damage that caught many residents off guard so close to the start of spring. One of the most striking images to emerge from the chaos was a white minibus taxi in Langlaagte, completely crushed under the weight of a large uprooted tree. Fortunately, the taxi was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The storm was driven by an upper cut-off low-pressure system, prompting the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to issue an Orange Level 5 warning for severe thunderstorms across the Northern Cape. Additional alerts were activated for Gauteng, the Free State, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with residents warned to brace for flooding, hail, excessive lightning and strong winds.

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Fallen trees block Johannesburg roads

The damage across Johannesburg was widespread. Fallen trees blocked key intersections in Cyrildene and obstructed M1 highway access ramps near Braamfontein and Houghton. A Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) patrol vehicle was also damaged by fallen trees in Witpoortjie.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the eThekwini Municipality placed its disaster management and rescue teams on standby as coastal and inland wind gusts reached up to 90 km/h, threatening informal settlements, power networks and local roads.

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) deployed specialised water-rescue units across the city. Motorists were urged to maintain safe following distances, steer clear of low-lying bridges and avoid attempting to cross flooded or fast-flowing water.

The photos shared by the Facebook group Lenasians captured just how unexpected and severe the damage was for a city not yet at the peak of the rainy season.

Watch the storm damage photos that left Johannesburg residents stunned here:

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More on SA's storm chaos

• Briefly News recently reported on Cape Town's brutal gale-force winds that knocked pedestrians clean off their feet, leaving them clinging to a tree trunk for safety.
• In another story, weather forecasters flagged a strong chance of thunderstorms disrupting the decisive Springboks vs All Blacks Test at FNB Stadium.
• Another Cape Town street video showed pedestrians battling to stay upright against the city's notorious winds.

Source: Briefly News