Temperature to drop in inland provinces this weekend

Livestock farmers in the Free State were asked to remain alert this weekend because of expected strong winds, isolated showers and cold to very cold conditions over the central parts of the province, forecast by SA Weather Service.

- Advertisement -

This was according to Mafa Mokoaqo, the Agricultural Risk and Disaster Management manager in the Free State.

He said in a statement farmers were advised to put measures in place to protect livestock from cold weather to prevent hypothermia and dehydration.

Livestock should be provided with wind-breaks and roofed shelter and monitored for signs such as extensive shivering, weakness and lethargy. It was very important that livestock be provided with extra feed for increased body heat in the extreme cold. Special attention should be paid to very young and old animals, said Mokoaqo.

- Advertisement -

An increase in open fires for heating and cooking purposes could be expected during the cold spell, according to Thinus Steenkamp, Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association general manager.

Landowners would be well advised to see to it that their firefighting equipment was in working order to manage veld fires that could be caused by the open fires.

“We are particularly concerned about pedestrians making fires on the roadside. Fires that are not extinguished properly and could get out of control,” said Steenkamp.