The Western Cape has been hit by severe weather this past weekend, resulting in high winds, raging tides, and a torrent of rainfall that has left several areas partially submerged.
The adverse conditions have taken a heavy toll on the province, resulting in damage to public infrastructure and private households that have yet to be fully calculated.
It has also resulted in injuries and the loss of several lives, as reports continue to surface of people who were caught by the flash flooding that occurred over the course of the Heritage Day long weekend.
Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said that the city was working closely with the relevant agencies to address the weather-related damage incidents reported over the past two days, and that emergency service teams were busy evacuating people from affected areas.
Areas to avoid
The Western Cape government has published an official road closure list for the province, which has since been updated to provide the most recent developments.
Below is a detailed list of every road closure in each of the affected areas, according to the WC government:
Overberg District
- Low water bridge across the Buffelsjag river close to Swellendam
- Low water bridge in Slanghoek is closed (DR1398)
- TR30/1 road between N2 and Villiersdorp
- TR30/1 k30-31 road closed Villiersdorp to N2
- TR30/2 Villiersdorp to Worceste
- MR279 Road between Grabouw and Villiersdorp
- Nag wag Bridge flooding first 5km between Bredasdorp and Arniston (TR29/2)
- MR277 Caledon to Greyton
- Swartvlei pad alternative route
- TR28/2 Hermanus Standford
- George to Cape Town diverted at Swellendam all road in that area are dangerous.
- DR1303 Greyton and Riviersonderent
- Dr1298 Calendon to Genadedal
- DR1313 & DR1311 Helderstroom and between Greyton and Riviersonderent
- MR264 Bredasdorp Swellendam closed both sides
- MR261 Bredasdorp Struisbaai
- MR1205 Struisbaai
- DR1252 Caledon Teslarsdal
- DR1257 Teslarsdal to Hermanus
- MR267 Akkedisberg pad to Stanfort (one-way system)
- MR269 Hemel and Aarde Road
- DR1207 Aniston and Struis Baai
- DR1212 Aniston and Struis Baai
- DR1213 Aniston and Struis Baai
- Tradouw pass closed
- DR1288 structures Botrivier kloof big structure gone
- DR1285 two structures
- Palmiet bridge R44 closed
West Coast
- DR2161 (Versvel pas) between Piketberg and Piket-bo-berg
- DR1161 Morreesburg Gouda road
- Uitkyk pass possible damages.
- DR1487 (Dwarsriver farm) km 45 Sandriff Camp terrain
- DR2182 km 9/10, Cederberg, agterpad tussen Algeria en Clanwilliam
Cape Winelands District
- DR01398 Slanghoek
- DR01347 Doringrivier
- OP05671 Moddergat
- OP05669 Lemoenpoort
- OP05662 De Hoek
- DR01085 Kromme Rhee
- MR191 Franshoek pass
- DR1351 Robertsvlei
- DR1400 Nuy Km 6.70
- DR5719 Knetvlei in De Doorns
- DR1489 Modderdrif de Doorns
- DR1353 Konings river km 7.80
- OP5960 Simsonkloof
- TR31/1 (R62) Montague to Ashton
- TR31/3 (R62) Barrydale to Montaque
- TR31/2 R60 Robertson and Worcester (one-way system)
- Koo road MR295 closed
City of Cape Town
- Chapman’s Peak drive
Oudtshoorn
- Meiringspoort
- R62 Ladismith Barrydale
Sanral roads
- N2 Botrivier
- N1 de Doorns
- N1 Woester
Dangerous weather
Municipal disaster management teams are currently on the ground attending to these roads and are clearing away debris such as mud or fallen trees.
To assist with the crisis, Eskom suspended load shedding this past weekend for the Western and Eastern Cape, while the rest of the country was placed at stage 3.
Certain roads have already been re-opened, including the N2 at Sir Lowry’s Pass, which was previously reported to be experiencing an immense traffic build-up while it was closed.
Keyword: Western Cape hit by severe floods – These are the roads to avoid