For many people, rain is bad news, but for the residents of drought-hit Cape Town in South Africa, it was cause for celebration.

Winter rains have failed to arrive for three successive years and the city has been edging closer to “Day Zero” when taps will be switched off.

Capetonians are currently limited to 50 litres of water per day and one rainfall is unlikely to change that. Day Zero is currently projected to arrive on 11 May.

But citizens welcomed Friday night’s 8mm (0.3 inches) of rain as a chance to gather extra water - and to simply enjoy a respite from the drought.

"Bless everyone that prayed," wrote one Twitter user. "Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain...".

Robyn Smith posted this picture of rain over Cape Town.

One Instagram user posted a picture of raindrops with the hashtag #blessings.

Cape Town resident Palesa Morudu welcomed the rain using the hashtag #DefeatDayZero.

Social media was full of anticipation in the hours before the rain fell.

"Praying for rain and rainbows," wrote Kerry Kopke.