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Cape Town - South Africans have taken to social media to express their anger, humour and generally mild displeasure at a heatwave spreading across the country this week.
Weather channels on Tuesday warned much of the country to prepare for a lingering, week-long heatwave.
Inland towns and cities faced the brunt of the rise in temperature, with the mercury hitting the mid-30s in Gauteng, while Upington in the Northern Cape experienced a scorching 40°C day on Wednesday.
And while the potential serious effects of the heatwave have been stressed by concerned citizens, the internet did its best to make light of a hot situation.
Whether in jest or in anger, or just used as another excuse to post pictures of their pets, read on for some of the best from social media users here...
? #HEATWAVE Gauteng will be hot, but very hot in the north. #PTA Thu 08/10: ? 19 | 34°C @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/MYqOCXLG0n
— Peoples Weather (@peoples_weather) October 8, 2015Twitter user Zoe Whitley (kindly) posted this classic 1980s song to mark the searing occasion, for anyone who wanted to get an annoyingly catchy song stuck in their head for the rest of the day (you’re welcome).
To my South Africans during this wonderful heat wave Hot Hot Hot with lyrics #summer #heatwave http://t.co/a4lqVhnufU
— Zoe Whitley (@WhitleyZoe) October 8, 2015Lulu Luwela may have stumbled across the real reason behind the Springboks stellar performance against the USA on Wednesday.
I'm starting to think that the springboks are playing well again to avoid this heat wave.
— Sdudla Mafehlefeezy♥ (@lulu_luwela) October 8, 2015Some even weighed in on the #heatwave's effect on Wednesday's nationwide Cosatu march.
#Cosatu marching in this #HEATWAVE pic.twitter.com/XgmXEdsae1
— samora nkosinkulu (@ImSamora) October 7, 2015#COSATU This "marcher is riding a fancy bike, while real marchers are facing the heatwave. #COSATUMarch pic.twitter.com/DjQ04Eg4rD
— KhayelihleKhumalo (@KhayaJames) October 7, 2015The City of Joburg did not ignore its civil duty, urging everyone to take care of themselves and their pets.
Pet owners be cautious during the #heatwave - ensure pets are properly hydrated, not left in cars or outdoors for too long ^NB
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) October 8, 2015Warning signs of heat exhaustion may include: breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, weakness, dizziness or cramps #Heatwave
— City of Joburg EMS (@CityofJoburgEMS) October 6, 2015And speaking of pets, most seemed to be having a pretty good time, if their owners were to be believed...
Melting in this #Pretoria #HEATWAVE my cat has the right idea, I'm sleeping on the tiles tonight. ?????? pic.twitter.com/5VDDxyhZED
— Tayla Welch (@TaylaWelch) October 7, 2015HOT!! Pretoria reached a high of 34°C today!! #HeatWave continuing till Thurs. How was your weather like today? pic.twitter.com/7WDqRZKKNv
— Annette Venter (@venter_annette) October 5, 2015Mophela Nosi felt the #heatwave situation needed a political solution...
No #HeatWave formed against us shall prosper!... #HeatWaveMustFall
— | |MOPHELA NOSI| | (@Sir_KattBortes) October 7, 2015In true Capetonian style, Adriaan Bester didn’t miss the opportunity to boast about the relatively pleasant Cape Town weather with his fellow inland citizens.
*Sips coffee with joy, pulls 2nd blanket tighter, closes blinds to rising Cape Town light, waves at your #heatwave https://t.co/ZFgTXHZazH
— Adriaan Bester (@aiBester) October 4, 2015Kemptom Express weighed in with some handy tips for anyone struggling with an overheating car. You just have to feel sorry for the man in the photo.
What to do when your car overheats in a heat wave http://t.co/rn42jUio9h #KemptonTips #HeatWave #MIWA pic.twitter.com/Yau7hG9aIE
— Kempton Express (@KemptonExpress) October 7, 2015Others may have been affected a little too much by the heat.
When you find yourself standing for an hour in the fridge and it's not just because your memory is fading #PleaseRainReallyPlease #heatwave
— Lee van Loggerenberg (@leevanlog) October 7, 2015@RediTlhabi I don't wanna say it's hot outside, but two hobbits just threw a ring out my window... #justsaying #HeatWave
— Lezanne (@Lizira00) October 7, 2015And everyone else, just wanted to be involved...
#heatwave in South Africa... pic.twitter.com/yG5TC9v1jb
— Fiona's PhotoWorld (@FionaPhotoWorld) October 7, 2015Uber driver: That heatwave is wasted on Gauteng. They can't even go to the beach. Me: Exactly. Stupid heatwave. Him: I wish we had one ??
— Deirdre (@GardensFoodie) October 8, 2015Ths situation right now #HEATWAVE pic.twitter.com/tY4MrVYt9c
— TLC (@tshepanglerato) October 7, 2015#Botswanaheat #HEATWAVE pic.twitter.com/Wqqpelw07c
— TLC (@tshepanglerato) October 8, 2015#NowPlaying Always and Forever by Heatwave on Majic 102.1! https://t.co/UqXr96XxHx
— Majic 102.1 OnAir (@Majic1021OnAir) October 8, 2015
