Heavy Rain Causes Flooding and Road Closures Across Western Cape

The Western Cape Government is urging motorists to exercise extreme caution as heavy rainfall continues to batter the province, causing widespread flooding and road closures.

The severe cold front that made landfall in the province on Wednesday, persisted into Thursday and is expected to last through the weekend and into next week.

The heavy rainfall has rendered several roads impassable in some areas due to flooding and damaged infrastructure, including washed-away bridges.

According to the department, Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement officers have therefore been deployed to affected areas to manage traffic flow and assist with emergency road closures.

At the same time, Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku has warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel and prioritise safety.

“Our officers are working around the clock to respond to dangerous situations on our roads. I urge motorists to prioritise their safety and that of others by obeying closure signs, avoiding flooded areas, and exercising extreme caution,” added Sileku.

The Western Cape Government also issued safety guidelines for those who must travel during adverse conditions. These include reducing speed, keeping a safe following distance, turning on headlights during the day, and never attempting to drive through flooded roads or bridges.

If travel during adverse weather is unavoidable, motorists are urged to:

Reduce speed and keep a safe following distance.
Turn on headlights for visibility, even during the day.
Never attempt to drive through flooded roads or bridges – the water may be deeper than it appears, and the road may be damaged underneath.
Stay informed by listening to traffic updates on local radio stations.
Obey all instructions from traffic officers and road signs.

Sileku says the Western Cape Government will continue to monitor road conditions in collaboration with local authorities and provide updates where necessary.

“Stay safe, stay informed, and avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas.”