If you stepped outside in Gauteng on Friday morning, you likely felt it straight away—the bite of a true winter morning.
From icy winds in Johannesburg to barely-above-zero starts in Pretoria, it was a wake-up call that winter is still in full swing.
Johannesburg Dips Below Freezing
The central parts of South Africa, especially Gauteng, got a serious blast of cold.
Johannesburg woke up under freezing conditions, and other areas weren’t far behind.
In Pretoria, the mercury hovered just above zero, while towns like Vereeniging also endured a frosty start.
Daytime Sunshine Doesn’t Bring Much Warmth
Even though the skies were mostly clear throughout Friday, the sun didn’t do much to take the edge off the chill.
Temperatures barely pushed into the upper teens and low twenties across the province.
In western parts like Krugersdorp and Carletonville, the highest temperature recorded was just 19°C.
Meteorologist Confirms the Cold Is Sticking Around
Joel Guy, a weather expert from SABC, explained that central South Africa—including all of Gauteng—is firmly in the grip of cold winter weather.
“It’s pretty chilly this morning,” he said, confirming that Johannesburg saw freezing temperatures with Pretoria only slightly warmer.
He also mentioned that temperatures start climbing slightly further north, closer to the Limpopo border, where mid-to-upper 20s were expected.
Cold Front Stays Away but Cold Air Sticks Around
Although there’s a cold front moving over western South Africa, it won’t be hitting Gauteng directly.
Still, the system is influencing conditions enough to keep the interior regions colder than usual.
So while there’s plenty of sunshine, don’t expect to feel much heat.
No Sign of a Weekend Warm-Up
Looking ahead to the weekend, weather models aren’t offering much hope for warmer conditions.
Saturday is expected to begin just as cold, with only a small bump in temperature during the day.
So if you’re planning anything outdoors, bundle up—it’s going to be another brisk one.