Western Cape sees spike in elderly dehydration cases amid heatwave

A construction worker seen drinking water during a hot day.

Western Cape health authorities say several facilities have reported more elderly patients presenting with dehydration. Temperatures in the upper 30s and sometimes exceeding 40 degrees are being experienced in the city and across parts of the Western Cape.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, is urging residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure and regularly check on vulnerable groups.

“I want to encourage residents to take extra care during this heatwave. Extreme heat can affect your health more than you realise. It can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and in severe cases heat stroke, which can be very dangerous. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Our health facilities are already seeing an increase in older patients coming in with dehydration and that is why I want to encourage families to check in on their older family members and remind them to drink water regularly even if they might not seem thirsty.”

Media Release: Record-Shattering Heat: Multiple Stations in Namakwa and Western Cape Break Long-Standing March Records pic.twitter.com/7tzoM6kWhr

— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) March 12, 2026

VIDEO | Thursday’s weather forecast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VYfQJY8Mog

Meanwhile, pet and animal owners have been urged to take extra care this week. Cart horse owners have also been cautioned to keep their animals at home in the extreme conditions.

“ We’ve advised our owners not to go out with the horses. Our industr,y the working cart horses they are out in heat all day and that is where the problem is. If the rectal temperature of the horse in the heatwave like this goes over and above 41, a horse can have heat stroke and muscle contraction and they can die. What we have experienced in the past, extreme dehydration, they say that within an hour a horse can lose up to 10 litres of sweat,” says Cart Horse Protection Association’s Diana Truter.