In South Africa, regional models have developed to a stage where
pattern changes at a sub-national scale are made with confidence,
while confidence for the magnitude of change is weaker.18 According
to these models, predictions are not uniform within South Africa and
climate change is likely to impact most strongly on the western regions,
with less of an impact as one moves eastwards. Certain areas are likely
to become ‘winners’ in light of certain projected changes, while other
areas are likely to become ‘losers’ as more water-related stresses are
experienced.19 ‘Hotspots’ of concern are the southwest of the country,
the west coast and, to a lesser extent, the extreme north of South
Africa.19,20 The responses of rainfall and temperature as predicted by
global climate change models are summarised in Table 1, with summer
and winter rainfall regions given separately where relevant