Media release by Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape Minister of Mobility
Severe rainfall and flooding have caused significant disruptions to mobility across the Western Cape this long weekend. Wherever possible, we urge residents to not leave their current location and delay their travel due to widespread road closures and unsafe conditions on the roads. Motorists who are already travelling on affected routes are asked to please consider turning back and finding alternative accommodation for the night.
There are closures on all major roadways, including the N1, N2, R60, R62, and various other roads across the province. Traffic is moving very slowly on heavily congested routes near Worcester, as all traffic from the N2 has been diverted to the N1. A safe alternative route for traffic delayed on the R60 between Robertson and Worcester has not yet been identified. Members of the public are asked to please not use this route but rather make alternative accommodation arrangements for the night to allow officials time to reopen routes safely.
Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement is assisting local authorities with traffic control and teams from the Department of Infrastructure are working to restore damaged roadways as quickly as possible.
Please be patient and take extra care if you must travel. Increase your following distances, ensure your lights are switched on, reduce your speed, follow the directions of traffic officials, and do not take any chances driving through water flooding the roadway.
We also ask employers to be patient with employees who may be unable to get to work on time due to transport disruptions.
Thank you to all our Provincial Traffic emergency services across the province who are working tirelessly to ensure road users and the general public are safe.
For detailed updates on road closures, please visit https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/road-closure-alert-25-september
Should members of the public require further information, they can contact the Western Cape Government Contact Centre. Additional staff have been brought on board to assist:
Call: 0860 142 142
SMS: “Help” 079 769 1207
Please Call Me: 079 769 1207
Email: service@westerncape.gov.za
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/WesternCapeGov
www.facebook.com/WesternCapeGovernment
https://www.youtube.com/user/westerncapegov
https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-cape-government
Media queries:
Rebecca Campbell
Spokesperson for Minister Ricardo Mackenzie
076 783 2583 or Rebecca.Campbell@westerncape.gov.za