Tragedy Hits KwaZulu-Natal as Severe Thunderstorms Claim 3 Lives in Just a Week
- Severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal have claimed three lives in less than a week
- The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for heavy rain and strong winds
- Over 460 residents were impacted by storm damage, and extensive infrastructure destruction was reported
Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
Source: Getty Images
KWAZULU-NATAL - At least three people have died in less than a week as severe thunderstorms battered parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
3 People killed in thunderstorms
Shonaphi Mhlongo, aged 66, was killed in Springvale near Ixopo on Tuesday, 10 February 2026. Over the weekend, 45-year-old Thembisile Khumalo and 36-year-old Mayford Khanyisani Zulu also died in the region. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for KZN's inland areas on Thursday, 12 February 2026. Forecasters predict heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and intense lightning.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
Authorities warned that the storms could flood roads, settlements, and low-lying areas and damage infrastructure. SAWS forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela urged residents to seek shelter immediately if they hear thunder, stay inside fully enclosed buildings or vehicles, and avoid open fields, hilltops, trees, metal fences, poles, water bodies, and temporary structures.
More than 460 people affected
If no shelter is available, Thobela advised people to spread out, crouch low with feet together, minimise contact with the ground, and avoid lying flat. He said outdoor activities should resume only 30 minutes after the last thunder, and that it is safe to assist lightning strike victims, who do not carry an electric charge.
The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance reported extensive damage in the Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu districts, with more than 460 people affected by partially damaged or destroyed homes. Farmers have also reported livestock deaths from lightning strikes.
Source: Twitter
Other weather-related stories
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued several weather warnings for parts of the country as high temperatures continue to bring heat to South Africans. According to SAWS, a Yellow Level 4 warning was issued for parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, while a Yellow Level 2 warning was issued for most of the Eastern Cape, parts of the Free State, large parts of the Western Cape, portions of the Northern Cape, and a small part of the North West bordering the Northern Cape.
The heavy rains which have battered parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga over the past week show no signs of slowing down. Both provinces have experienced unrelenting rain, which has led to flooding, infrastructure damage, and even death. Mother Nature isn’t done just yet, either, with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning of more to come.
The South African Weather Service has issued its highest possible alert for Limpopo and Mpumalanga, escalating its warning to a Red Level 10 for disruptive rainfall as flooding in the affected areas worsens. SAWS said the warning indicated a severe risk to life, livelihoods and infrastructure, following days of torrential rain that had already caused extensive flooding across the region.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
