KOUGA – The Kouga Local Municipality has announced the closure of several roads and river crossings following severe rainfall, flooding and unsafe driving conditions across the region.
In a notice issued on 4 June, the municipality said the R331 Patensie Low-Water Bridge is inaccessible and closed due to flooding, while the R330 on the Humansdorp side has been closed to all traffic until further notice.
Weston Bridge has also been closed because of high water levels and unsafe crossing conditions.
The latest developments come as residents across the Kouga and Kou-Kamma regions were urged to prepare for severe weather after the South African Weather Service upgraded its warning from Level 5 to Level 8 for disruptive rain expected from 3 to 4 June.
The municipality urged residents, motorists and road users to avoid the affected areas and make use of alternative routes where possible.
“Motorists are reminded that attempting to cross flooded roads or bridges poses a significant risk to life and property,” the municipality said.
The municipality further indicated that municipal teams are continuously monitoring the situation and roads will only be reopened once water levels have subsided and conditions are confirmed to be safe for public use.
The municipality appealed to all road users to exercise extreme caution, obey all road closure signage and follow instructions issued by emergency services and traffic officials.
“The safety of our residents remains our highest priority,” the municipality said.
Residents have also been encouraged to stay updated through the municipality’s official communication channels for further developments and road status updates.
The road closures follow an urgent evacuation notice issued by Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman on the evening of 3 June.
In a Facebook post, Bornman advised residents living in low-lying areas along the Gamtoos River to evacuate immediately, warning that river levels were rising much faster than anticipated.
He said the municipality wanted to ensure the safety of residents and avoid casualties.
The Gamtoos Valley was also the area hardest hit during heavy rainfall in May, when an evacuation notice was issued on 7 May after the Kouga Dam began spilling upon reaching full capacity within a matter of hours.
To assist those affected, the clubhouse at the Thornhill Sportsfield was made available for displaced residents.
Residents requiring assistance were advised to contact the municipality via WhatsApp on 081 760 9183.
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