Johannesburg has seen its first snowfall since 2012, as cold weather is sweeping across much of the country. Residents are being advised to take extra precautions to stay warm and farmers to provide shelter for livestock.

South Africa’s weather service said snow has also been reported in Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.

"The public is advised to keep warm during these conditions," said the South African Weather Service (Saws) in a statement.

Weather experts have also advised initiation schools in the Eastern Cape to be extra vigilant over the next week as they keep watch over hundreds of teenage boys undergoing traditional circumcision rites on isolated mountainsides across the province - a practice seen as a rite of passage into manhood amongst the Xhosa ethnic group.

The cold conditions are expected to continue throughout the week.

"No major disruptions have been caused by the snowfall at this stage," Saws spokesperson Hannelee Doubell told the BBC.

Source: BBC