Update Video
GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Residents are urged to remain cautious as flooding is still ongoing across several areas.
Dams continue to spill, with the Stompdrift Dam currently at 139%, while the Meiringspoort River remains in flood as it passes through Oudtshoorn, passing Calitzdorp Hot Springs via the Olifant's River and down to the Gourits.
The route from Oudtshoorn via Calitzdorp Hot Springs to Gourits has been severely affected, with multiple farms cut off and many residents impacted.
Meiringspoort Pass is expected to remain closed for an extended period.
The N9 was closed between Uniondale and George but has reopened.
The R62 between Joubertinia and George is also open, but motorists are urged to travel with caution.
Road users can alternatively travel via the R341 through De Rust to Oudtshoorn.
From Oudtshoorn, motorists can continue towards George via the N12, or travel along the R62 towards Calitzdorp, Ladismith and beyond.
Great Brak River this afternoon. Photo: Jan de la Rey
Inaccessable areas
The following areas remain inaccessible due to flooding and infrastructure damage:
Oudtshoorn Municipal area
- Middelplaas
- Volmoed
- Cango Bergoord
- De Oude Meul
- Moeras River
- Proefplaas
- Meiringspoort
Kannaland Municipal area
- Paardebont (close to Van Wyksdorp)
- Middelpad at Calitzdorp Hot Springs
- Gamka-Oos
George Municipal area
- Mount Hope (past Zebra)
- De Vlugt
- Kammanassie
Bitou Municipal area
- SNK & Fisantehoek
- Wittedrift
Humanitarian assistance has been requested from Gift of the Givers, Al Imdaad and NGO’s with five-day food parcels being prepared for delivery. Air support may be utilised where possible.
Authorities have attempted to reach a school group at Cango Bergoord, consisting of 64 people, but the area remains inaccessible.
Critical infrastructure issues
- The Uplands Water Works on the R340 has been severely affected. The facility supplies approximately 80% of Bitou Municipality’s water and repairs are critical.
- The Bitou Municipality currently has sufficient water in reservoirs for at least today.
- The Bitou Municipality's Roodefontein Pump Station has also been flooded.
- Access to the Nature’s Valley Pump Station has also been compromised.
- In Uniondale, a water pipeline was washed away and water tankers provided by GRDM are currently supplying affected communities.
VIDEO: Plaas by die Kammanassie-dam buite Dysselsdorp. Video: Verskaf
Status of roads
Oudtshoorn Area
- DR1707 – Middelplaas (closed)
- MR369 – Swartberg Pass (closed)
- MR401 – Uniondale Poort (closed)
- MR401 – Uniondale town approaches (closed)
- MR399 – Avontuur (closed)
Kannaland Area
- DR1706 – Groenfontein (closed)
- MR309 – Seweweekspoort (closed)
George / Knysna / Bitou Area
- DR1615 – Swart Rivier (closed)
- MR346 – Buffelsbaai (closed)
- DR1888 – Keurboomstrand (closed)
- MR390 – Kruisvallei / Uplands intersection (closed)
- DR1613 – Phantom Pass (closed)
- DR1602 – Kleinplaas (closed)
- DR1633 – Jonkersberg (closed)
- DR1604 – Haelkraal (closed)
- The N9 between Uniondale and George has reopened.
- The R62 between Joubertinia and George is also open, but motorists are urged to travel with caution.
Trunk Roads
- TR33/4 – Meiringspoort (closed)
- TR44/1 – Avontuur to Eastern Cape boundary (closed)
- TR1/2 – Noll to Harold (closed)
- TR2/12 – Nature’s Valley to N2 (closed)
- TR16/10 – Murraysburg to Graaff-Reinet (closed)
- TR58/1 – Molteno Pass (Beaufort West to Loxton) (closed)
- TR1/2 – N9 section near Uniondale (closed)
- TR33/2 – Oudtshoorn flooded section (closed)
VIDEO: Geneem op 'n plaas by die Kammanassie-dam buite Dysselsdorp. Video: verskaf
Roads Open / Partially Open
Oudtshoorn Area
- DR1640 – Montagu Pass - one lane open
George / Knysna Area
- MR390 – Kruisvallei (km 0–1.44) - open
- MR355 – Seven Passes Road - open after tree removal
- MR351 – Barrington - open
- MR394 – Keurboomstrand - open
Trunk Roads
- TR34/2 – Prince Albert to Klaarstroom - open
- TR31/5 – Huisrivier Pass - stop-and-go system in place
Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel as conditions may change rapidly due to ongoing rainfall, flooding rivers, falling trees, and damaged road infrastructure.
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