KOU-KAMMA – The Eastern Cape Department of Transport can confirm that the most significant road infrastructure damage recorded thus far due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions is the collapse of a section of the R62 between Kareedouw and Joubertina.
According to Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose, the affected section of road has been closed to traffic and is expected to remain closed for some time while detailed assessments are undertaken and repair plans are finalised.
“Motorists travelling to and from the Western Cape are advised to make use of the alternative route via the N2,” said Binqose.
He further said that the Sarah Baartman District remains the epicentre of the severe weather conditions affecting the province, with mudslides, rockfalls, flooding, and rough sea-induced road closures reported in and around Gqeberha, Humansdorp, Kareedouw, and surrounding areas.
The heavy rain follows the South African Weather Service’s Level 8 warning for disruptive rain in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma areas.
Binqose said that despite snowfall in high-lying regions, all major mountain passes currently remain open to traffic.
However, continuous monitoring and clean-up operations are underway across flood-prone and rockfall-affected routes throughout the province.
MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, said the collapse of the R62 represents a major setback for road infrastructure in the province and is likely to have far-reaching economic implications for farming communities in Joubertina and Kareedouw, whose produce supports both domestic markets and international export markets.
“We are dealing with widespread weather-related damage across parts of the province, but the collapse of the R62 remains our single biggest infrastructure concern at this stage. Beyond the inconvenience to motorists, this route is critical to the agricultural economy of the region, and its disruption will inevitably have ripple effects on surrounding farming communities and supply chains,” said Nqatha.
Binqose said that the Department continues to work closely with disaster management teams, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to monitor conditions and ensure public safety.
“Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, obey road closure signage, and exercise extreme caution as adverse weather conditions persist,” said Binqose.
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