Cyclone Dineo �prank� angers Masetlheng residents

For terrified residents, the early morning announcement was a reminder of the flooding caused in the low-lying ward by Cyclone Dineo in the latter part of the last rain season.

However, it has emerged that the warning was an attempt by local disaster management officers to compel residents to attend a Kgotla meeting on disaster preparedness, a tactic that apparently backfired and angered some in the area. The meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Yesterday, Meteorological Services’ principal meteorologist, Charles Molongwane told Mmegi that the department was not expecting heavy falls in the area and had these been forecast, the appropriate warning would have been issued. The department characterises heavy falls as rainfall amounts of 50 millimetres or more within 24 hours.