Written by Werner van Dyk
We often hear people stating that climate change is not affecting their daily lives and that certain peaks in temperature are purely due to El Niño patterns. Over the last year, some parts of South Africa experienced persistent heat, and some areas had more lengthy periods, which is neither unusual for that time of year nor during an El Niño. Climate change is, however, making more extreme heatwaves more frequent and severe, resulting in the impact of El Niño being more intense.
To understand what we mean when we refer to a heatwave, we can turn to the South African Weather Service, which defines a heatwave as a prolonged period (3 days or longer) of excessively high temperatures that are 5°C or above the average maximum for a particular region. For a detailed explanation of how these regional patterns look across South Africa, refer to the below map of the “hottest month”:
Chart: South African Weather Service and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment.
Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, heavy rain downpours, extreme winds and so on, are becoming more common and intense across the globe, and also in South Africa, as was recently discussed by the Department of Science and Innovation during a conference at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study in May 2024. The data supports the current trend that climate change impacts daily weather patterns more frequently, although not as severe. Although what South Africa is experiencing during the El Niño season, it is not uncommon for more severe rainfall or warmer, drier conditions over some parts of the country, research from the South African Weather Service has suggested that impacts of climate change will not always be visible immediately or have a direct impact on daily weather patterns. The concerns are raised for the future, as researchers see seasons shifting due to later Summers or longer Winters, resulting in some agricultural commodities becoming ripe later and then being exposed to harsher weather. Naturally, this impacts daily agricultural practices, production planning, farm output, logistics, and general effective operations.
Amid some of the systemic economic and social challenges South Africa faces within its population, its vibrant agriculture and deeply rich natural landscapes remain vital assets in sustaining the economy. According to a recent study published by the University of Cape Town, approximately 20% of South Africa’s population is food insecure, compounded by poor nutrition, which places additional strain on agricultural and food production. Amid these challenges from a socio-economic perspective, it is clear that agriculture and biodiversity are particularly important in South Africa.
The South African Weather Service provides some tips on managing heatwaves, but it’s also important to take general precautions, especially to maintain good agricultural practices. Some of these include:
- Persons should rather stay indoors in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned room (where possible).
- When working outside, persons should wear protective clothing (headgear to protect from sun, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.).
- Take regular breaks at regular intervals.
- Remain adequately hydrated by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic liquids.
- Farms in peak season during warm summer months can consider changing working hours to start earlier in the morning and finish before the peak heat period mid-day.
- Farms and packhouses should utilise weather service predictions to assess upcoming patterns and avoid overripening fruit and vegetables.
- Use shade cloth (where financially viable).
- Use mulching on the ground to keep the soil cool.
- Ensure animals have enough water to drink and shaded areas to rest under.
South Africa is a nation of approximately 61.5 million people and boasts one of the most diverse economies on the African continent. Its climate is equally diverse, ranging from the arid Kalahari Desert in the northwest to lush subtropical regions in the east and temperate areas in the southwest. With over 2,500 km of coastline, South Africa shows off a landscape teeming with life. From the iconic Kruger National Park to expansive Wetlands, South Africa is a sanctuary for many plant and animal species, including three of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. It’s imperative that private, governmental, and other stakeholders continue their efforts to develop more innovative systems to limit the impacts of climate change. As agriculture in South Africa is and has remained one of the most resilient sectors, the sector must remain resilient to withstand future impacts that may impact its people, food security, and the natural environment.
Further reading and resources used for this article:
- The South African Weather Service
- Research University of Cape Town
- Conference Stellenbosch University
- Statistics South Africa (StatsSA)
- South Africa Present Day Climate
- South African Government News Agency