<P> South Africa is a sunny country , averaging 8 - 10 daily sunshine hours in most regions . The average annual rainfall for South Africa is 450ml ( compared to a global average of 860ml ) but large and unpredictable variations are common . Overall , rainfall is greatest in the east and gradually decreases westward , with some semi-desert areas along the western edge of South Africa . For most of the country , rain falls mainly in the summer months with brief afternoon thunderstorms . The exception is the Western Cape and its capital city Cape Town where the climate is Mediterranean and it rains more in the wintertime.In the winter months , snow collects on the high mountains of the Cape and the Drakensberg . </P>
during which season does cape town receive rainfall
winter