BY: MASHUDU MAGAU
In the eastern cape, strong winds with speeds of up to 70 km/h and thick snow have caused havoc, causing road closures and compromising road users’ safety. On
Tuesday, July 9, the R58 barkly pass between barkly east and khowa was closed due to snow.
Traffic officers continue to monitor the situation in other mountain passes in the northern parts of the province bordering Lesotho, where temperatures dropped to below zero overnight.
Unathi Binqose, provincial Department of Transport spokesman, said: “Officers closed the pass in good time to prevent anyone from getting stuck. Road users are urged to be extra-cautious when approaching high-lying areas and mountain passes, as snow continues to fall in the northern parts of the province, affecting some roads.”
Binqose said traffic police officers and emergency response teams are keeping an eye on several mountain passes, including Penhoek pass on the n6, Lootsburg pass on the 9, and wapadsberg pass on the r61.
“In addition to the snowfall, strong winds also pose a threat to road users. A bakkie converted into an ambulance had its back blown off on the N2 outside Qumbu, and other vehicles have been swept by the strong winds,” said Binqose. In Nelson Mandela Bay, spring tides and rough sea conditions wreaked havoc on the
N2 national road, delaying traffic. Both lanes of the N2 were flooded with rocks and debris due to heavy waves.
However, municipal spokesman Sithembiso Soyaya said: “The N2 has been reopened after the debris was cleaned. Our officers are still in the area to monitor the situation.”