Persistent heavy rainfall across the Eastern Cape, particularly Kariega and Despatch, has caused widespread flooding, road closures and hazardous driving conditions in parts of the area, with authorities monitoring several key routes as water levels gradually begin to subside.

Motorists and residents have been urged to remain cautious following the closure of the bridge on the R367 Old Uitenhage Road, while municipal officials and ward councillors continue to assess damage and provide updates on affected areas.

According to Ward 52 Councillor Frans Swanepoel, the bridge on the R367 Old Uitenhage Road has been closed.

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“This is the double bridge when you turn left onto the R367 from Verwoerd Avenue in Despatch, shortly before the turn-off to Inibos,” he said. “The bridge was closed last night, and the situation will be assessed further today.”

Swanepoel continued, stating that the rain has now eased and conditions are improving.

“I can confirm that the Niven’s Bridge (Cuyler Street bridge) is open. The road in Kruisrivier Industrial, at the traffic lights and T-junction, is also open,” he said.

Ward 51 Councillor Roelf Basson, who was involved in the rehabilitation of the bridge following the 2024 flood, confirmed that the crack in the bridge does not look too serious. “I saw the crack in the tar and, in my view, [it is related to where] the old and the new tar met; although I am not a technical person, the relevant department needs to evaluate it and establish how serious the crack is.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe visited the bridge last night and shared an update.

She said, “We [NMBM members] came with engineers to inspect the bridge,” but did not share the findings of the inspection.

“The [Swartkops River] water is flowing at a high speed, but it is not a threat to anyone, as long as no one goes into the water or tries to cross the river,” she said.

Swanepoel said the R75 is also open from Despatch through the Chatty Dip, towards Gqeberha, and the route is accessible.

He noted good news for residents living in the low-lying areas of Despatch. “The water levels are going down, so residents can go to work with peace of mind,” he said. “In addition, the road along the beachfront near the Dolosse, which was closed yesterday, was cleaned last night and is now open again.”

With regard to the Swartkops Road (M19), he said that there are no problems up to the robots and the road is clear. “However, after the robots, motorists must drive very carefully as there are potholes in the road,” he said.

Swanepoel noted a few vehicles on the side of the Swartkops Road (M19) with flat tyres. “Please drive in that area with extreme caution,” he warned.

Concerning the alleged closure of the Matanzima Bridge that was recently reconstructed, the NMBM released a statement regarding the circulation of false and misleading information claiming that the Matanzima Bridge has cracked. “This information is fake news,” it stated. “The bridge remains structurally sound, and there is currently no confirmed structural damage reported.”

The Metro condemned the irresponsible spread of misinformation, particularly during periods of severe weather conditions when residents rely on accurate and credible updates for their safety.

“The sharing of unverified information creates unnecessary panic, fear, and confusion within communities and may hinder emergency response efforts,” the statement reads. “Residents are urged to rely only on official municipal communication platforms and verified sources for updates.”

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