Cape Town – Torrential rains over the past few days have transformed Cape Town’s roads into treacherous waterways, forcing the closure of multiple key routes and leaving commuters stranded.
The devastation comes just months after a devastating tornado storm hit Pretoria in late February—followed by wildfires that swept through Cape Town’s Table Mountain.
Now, as another extreme weather system grips the region, disaster management teams are once again on high alert. Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing travel chaos.
Major road closures
The following routes are currently shut due to flooding, mudslides, or structural damage :
Cape Winelands District:
- Slanghoek Road & Scherpenheuwel bridges (closed after Breede River overflowed).
- DR1341 (Die Plaat, Bonnievale) – Km 0.99-1.10 blocked.
- DR1397 (Merwe Street) – Drift over Breede River at km 7.9 impassable.
West Coast District:
- MR539 (N7 to Algeria) – Low-water bridge flooded.
- MR215 (Darling to Yzerfontein) – Road washed out.
- MR174 (Malmesbury to Klipheuwel) – Closed to traffic.
Overberg District:
- DR1257 (Solitaire Road) – Tesselaarsdal to Hemel en Aarde shut.
- DR1276 (Dassiesfontein Road) – N2 back road to Caledon inaccessible.
Metro Cape Town:
- Borchard’s Quarry link (N2 inbound) – Submerged since Saturday .
- N1 inbound near Durban Road – Right lane flooded.
- N2 outbound – Critical flooding between Robert Sobukwe Road and Liesbeek Parkway .
- Prince George Drive (Grassy Park to Lavender Hill) – Fully overwhelmed by floodwaters.
High-risk flood hotspots
Motorists are urged to avoid these areas entirely due to extreme hazards :
- Baden Powell Drive (JK Masemola/Macassar Road to N2) – Deep water, near-zero visibility.
- Boys Drive (Kalk Bay) – Left lane collapsed near speed camera.
- Simon’s Town to Fish Hoek (Main Road) – Mudslides near Glencairn and Harbour Bay Mall.
- Ou Kaapse Weg (Tokai) – Severe delays between S-Bend and Steenberg Road.
Safety warnings for drivers
Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs issued urgent advice :
“Drive with headlights on, reduce speed, and increase following distance. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads—find alternate routes.”
Additional precautions:
- Monitor real-time updates via SA Weather Service or X ( Twitter) : @SAWeatherServic and Facebook.
- Report obstructions to City emergency lines: 021 480 7700.
- Avoid non-essential travel until waters recede .
When will roads reopen?
While rainfall has eased, damp conditions may prolong closures. The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre notes:
- Natural drainage is clearing some localised flooding .
- Bridges and low-lying roads (e.g., Slanghoek, Scherpenheuwel) may remain closed for days pending structural checks .
Alternate routes
For critical travel, use:
- N1 via Bellville as an N2 bypass.
- M5/M7 for coastal access (avoid Baden Powell).
- R300 for north-south transit .
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Urgent relief efforts underway
As weather warnings persist, humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers has launched an urgent BackaBuddy crowdfunding appeal to support flood-affected communities.
Operating without government funding, the organisation is currently delivering emergency relief and essential supplies to more than 20 impacted areas across the Western Cape and beyond. Donations to the campaign are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate, making it easier for individuals and businesses to contribute meaningfully.
“At the moment we are busy distributing the food, hot meals to the people and we are giving them warm blankets. At this place it’s close to 200. In Kraaifontein it’s close to 400 people. KTC probably over 1000 people. Our teams are spread out over the Western Cape over the Cape Metro Pole, assisting the people in need,” the organisation said.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government has intensified efforts to coordinate disaster relief and recovery in its own flood-stricken districts. In a statement on Friday, the province confirmed that a multidisciplinary team—led by the Office of the Premier and supported by the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements, Health, Home Affairs, SASSA, and local municipalities—has been on the ground since the onset of the disaster.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, known for their recent community outreach partnership with Springboks winger Makazole Mapimpi, have also joined the collective effort, delivering aid to displaced families in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts.
Residents and supporters are encouraged to assist where possible, as relief teams race against time to reach vulnerable areas still isolated by floodwaters.
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