Eastern Cape: More rain sees R72 closed off again

EASTERN Cape disaster management yesterday announced that the R72 coastal route between Port Alfred and Kenton-On-Sea has again been closed off to all forms of traffic.

This comes after heavy rains caused severe flood damage to provincial roads over the past two weeks.

Provincial disaster management spokesman Captain John Fobian said the R72, which was initially closed to all vehicles and then reopened to light motor vehicles last week, has again been closed to all vehicles due to the “sagging of the road”.

“Unfortunately the rain has handed us a bad blow,” said Fobian.

The R72 first faced closure last week Monday when it was discovered the bridge over the Kasouga River was on the verge of collapsing.

This section of the road, between Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea, was then closed to heavy vehicles. After rains again last week and at the weekend, the condition of the road deteriorated.

Motorists could use the route from Port Alfred through Bathurst, Salem, Grahamstown and back to Kenton-On-Sea, or through Alexandria, Kenton-On-Sea, Salem and then Grahamstown.

The road would take an estimated two to three days to be repaired.

— shanaazp@dispatch.co.za

News Latest on the roads from the Kouga Municipality

The Kouga Municipality says a pedestrian walkway has been constructed over the Sand River bridge, which washed away again during last week's floods.

The Municipality says the Department of Public Works also hopes to have the bridge by Friday for vehicles.

Spokesperson, Laura Leigh Randall, issued the following update on the roads.

ROADS NOW OPEN:

1) The Humansdorp - Hankey road is now open to 4x4s and LDVs. Water on the Weston bridge has subsided substantially but small vehicles won't yet be able to cross it.
2) The Milton bridge at Hankey is open.
3) (Open since yesterday) The St Francis - Oyster Bay road is open. There are patches of road that were badly damaged, so please drive carefully and keep a close eye on the road surface.
4) (Open since yesterday) The Loerie road is open. The Melon bridge is no longer flooded.

ROADS STILL CLOSED:

1) Humansdorp - Oyster Bay road
2) Sections of Cormorant and Dolphin Drive in Aston Bay, Jeffreys Bay
3) Johan Muller Boulevard in Paradise Beach, Jeffreys Bay
4) Mahe Beat bridge over the canals in St Francis Bay is open to pedestrians only.

SAND RIVER BRIDGE, ST FRANCIS

A walkway has been erected across the Sand River.
The provincial Department of Public Works is busy rebuilding the bridge. They're still aiming to have it open to traffic by Friday.

DROP-OFF POINTS FOR BLANKETS, CLOTHES AND FOOD

Those who would like to help assist families whose homes were flooded, are invited to drop off blankets, clothing and non-perishable at the Kouga Fire Station in Humansdorp or at the municipal units in Jeffreys Bay (Randall Arnolds at the Help Desk), St Francis (Ann Bezuidenhout or the Help Desk) and Hankey (Florence Mjaco).


(Image: Kouga Mayor Booi Koerat and portfolio councillor Phumzile Oliphant)

- ALGOA FM

National road infrastructure damages in the Eastern Cape due to rain

MEDIA RELEASE
issued by
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY LTD
22 October 2012
NATIONAL ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGES IN THE EASTERN CAPE DUE TO RAIN

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to advise road users of the following road updates:

During the recent prolonged and heavy rains in the Eastern Cape, severe damage has occurred on both the N2 and R72 routes, linking Port Elizabeth and East London.

On the N2 the failure of an embankment has left a 45 metre gap in the road, cutting off access between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth. The road has subsequently been closed for traffic. SANRAL is currently assessing the cause of this failure, how it should be repaired, timeframes, and sources of material to replace the failure and will then engage with contractors to execute the work.

SANRAL is also investigating the repair to gravel roads as alternative routes around this closure to allow light vehicles a more direct route, as the full embankment repair is expected to continue into 2013.

Alternative routes for the N2 are via the R343, leading off the N2 about 10km west of Grahamstown to Kenton-on-Sea and then via the R72 to Port Elizabeth. A much longer alternative from Grahamstown via the R350 to Bedford, Cookhouse and the N10 to Port Elizabeth, is also available.

On the N2, between Peddie and Kind Williams Town, where flood closures were in place, the whole route is open to traffic.

On the N2 Port Elizabeth bypass, one lane of the freeway is closed to traffic at the Standford Road interchange, which will have a significant impact on peak hour traffic.

On the R72, damages have occurred at two places which have resulted in half the road being closed in places with stop / go controls, but could be completely closed due to ongoing flood damages. The route between Port Elizabeth and East London would the be via the R63 and the N10. Road users should turn onto the R63 just outside King Williams Town and continue through Fort Beaufort and Bedford to the N10 near Cookhouse and then continue with the N10 past Paterson to Nanaga to join the N2 to Port Elizabeth. This is the recommended route for all heavy vehicles travelling between Port Elizabeth and East London.

Road users are requested to exercise extreme caution on all roads as the prolonged rains have increased the rate of pothole development. SANRAL thanks road users for their patience and apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Issued by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited
Email: pressoffice@nra.co.za

Latest on the roads from the Kouga Municipality

We received the following update from the Kouga Municipality.

Road Closures;

1. The St Francis Bay - Oyster Bay has been opened - but only for 4x4s.
2. The Humansdorp - Oyster Bay road remains closed.
3. The Humansdorp - Hankey road remains the closed. The Weston bridge, just before Hankey, is still flooded.
4. The Loerie Road, from the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel to Loerieheuwel, remains closed. The Melon bridge is still flooded.
5. In Hankey the Milton bridge is also still under water.
6. In Jeffreys Bay Johan Muller Boulevard in Paradise Beach is closed, as are sections of Cormorant Crescent and Dolphin Drive in Aston Bay. Apiesdraai, on the road from Jeffreys Bay to Aston Bay, is also closed.
7. In St Francis Bay the Mahe Beat bridge over the canals has been badly damaged and is closed.

Sand River Bridge - St Francis.

The Department of Public Works, which is responsible for the bridge, has indicated that they will start reconstructing the bridge as soon as possible. Their aim is to have at least one lane open for traffic by Friday evening.

Potholes:
The rain has again badly damaged the streets of towns such as Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay. Repairs on main routes In J'Bay are already started. Repairs in St Francis have been delayed by the bridge collapsing as getting tar across the Sand River to the town is near impossible.

- ALGOA FM

Road damage assessed in Eastern Cape

Johannesburg - Disaster management teams and road agency officials were assessing the rain damage to roads in the Eastern Cape, the local government department said on Monday.

"Following a weekend of heavy rains, flooding and bad weather, our disaster management officials are busy mopping up and attending to minor loose ends," spokesperson Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha said.

Displaced people and affected households, commercial centres and community amenities were also being assessed for damage and a decision would be made on whether to declare a state of emergency in those areas.

On the N2, an embankment had collapsed, leaving a 45m gap in the road, cutting off access between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth. The road had been closed to traffic.

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) was looking at both the cause and the best methods to repair the road. It was examining repairing gravel roads to create a detour for light vehicles. The full embankment repair was expected to continue into 2013.

Sanral-recommended alternative routes were via the R343, leading off the N2 about 10km west of Grahamstown to Kenton-on-Sea, and then via the R72 to Port Elizabeth.

A much longer alternative from Grahamstown via the R350 to Bedford, Cookhouse and the N10 to Port Elizabeth, was also available.

The N2, between Peddie and King Williams Town had been reopened to traffic.

On the N2 Port Elizabeth bypass, one lane of the freeway was closed at the Standford Road interchange, which would have affect peak hour traffic.

There was a partial collapse of the R72 between Port Alfred and Alexandria. Temporary arrangements had been made to open one lane, with a "stop and go" operation in place.

People travelling between Port Elizabeth and East London should turn onto the R63 just outside King Williams Town, continue through Fort Beaufort and Bedford to the N10 near Cookhouse, then continue with the N10 past Paterson to Nanaga to join the N2 to Port Elizabeth.

This was the recommended route for all heavy vehicles travelling between the Port Elizabeth and East London.

The St Francis Bridge in Humansdorp had collapsed, and the Kasoga Bridge between Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred was near collapse.

Other areas affected were Kouga, the Nelson Mandela Metro, and the Ndlambe municipality.

Drivers were advised to exercise extreme caution on all roads as the prolonged rains had increased the rate of pothole development.

- SAPA/News24

Section of N2 collapses in Eastern Cape

Johannesburg - A section of the N2 between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth has collapsed on Saturday evening, the provincial government said.

Provincial traffic and disaster management spokesperson Tshepo Machae said the collapse was due to rainfall in the area.

Machae said additional information on vehicles affected or potential casualties was not yet available.

- SAPA/News24

SAWDOS: See images published earlier on the blog. The road is closed to traffic and will take up to 6 months to repair.

N2 between Grahamstown and PE has collapsed due to flooding.

N2 between Grahamstown and PE has collapsed due to flooding. Image submitted by Wayne Hart - ALGOA FM

Daddy Cool - Another pic

Road Closures: Eastern Cape courtesy of AlgoaFM

The R72 and R75 between Uitenhage and Jansenville now closed

We have been advised of the following road closures and conditions. It is important to nothe that there are more than likely other roads too that are affected elsewhere in the Eastern Cape and in the Garden Route area.



The R75 between Uitenhage and Jansenville is closed due to flooding, also The R72 is closed due to dangerous conditions in especially the Port Alfred/Kenton/Boknes and Kleinemonde area's.


The road between Grahamstown in Port Alfred is very dangerous and the Alexandria road coming FROM EL a massive mudslide on the road.

The R67 between Port Alfred and Bathurst closed

The R72 between Nanaga and Lovers Twist closed

The Road between Alexandria and Kenton on Sea closed due to a mudslide

Road between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown very dangerous rather avoid if possible

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality:

N2 Eastbound (near Seaview)
7th Avenue Walmer
Third Avenue
Seaview Road (near Bushy Park)
Blackthorne Avenue (Forest Hill)
Lakeside and Butterfield

Willow Road getting waterlogged as well as Riverstone road between Kabega Park and Sherwood

Due to the localised flooding, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality would like to advise motorists to be extremely careful and adhere to safe following distances when driving as the road conditions can be dangerous.

Residents can contact the Joint Operations Centre at 041 501 7980 or 041 501 7988.

Kouga Municipality

1) All's well at the Sand River bridge at St Francis Bay. The bridge will be closely monitored to keep the pipes clear of debris.

2) There's quite a lot of water at the traffic circle to the entrance of St Francis but the municipality and St Francis Links have been clearing it up and cars can get through.

3) Humansdorp - Oyster Bay road is still closed.

4) St Francis - Oyster Bay road is open to 4x4s only but is very slippery.

5) Johan Muller Boulevard in Paradise Beach, Jeffreys Bay, is closed.

6) The Loerie road - the section after the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel to the causeway outside Loerie - is closed. Alternative route for those travelling to and from Loerie would be the R330 (the road you take from PE to Hankey and Patensie).

Just a reminder of our all-hours emergency number should anyone need assistance - 042 291 0250. Residents are also asked to report any service interruptions, eg, electricity or water breakdowns, to this number so that our technical staff can attend to it.

- Algoa FM

Current Road closures in Nelson Mandela Bay

Here are the current road closures and roads flooded in the Nelson Mandela By Metro, this list might change or grow so stay tuned to Algoafm for the latest updates.


* On the R67 between Bathurst and Port Alfred roads are completely flooded.
* The left lane of the M4 Freeway in the Northerly direction
* Fitchetts Corner and Despatch flooded
* Corner of Circular drive and William Moffet
* Water levels are rising in Heugh Road and 10th Avenue
* Uitenhage Road and left lane of Mati Road Flooded
* The R75 into Uitenhage flooded
* Kempston Road and Cresswell Road is waterlogged
* Admiralty and Coach Road
* Burman Road and Deal party is waterlogged
* Tergetkloof flooded
* Dyke Road and Bethelsdorp waterlogged
* Left lane closed on the N2 between Burman Road and Stanford Raod
* N2 between van Stadens and Blue Horizon Bay is flooded
* Corner of Cape Road, near Bushy Park, flooded
* Koedoeskloof waste site is closed

- AlgoaFM

Port Elizabeth: More road closures due to heavy rains

A bit too much rain:-photo taken in the Volkswagen staff parking lot at 17:30 this evening. Shared on Facebook by Lenel Jordaan

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality have confirmed that the R75 into Uitenhage is closed, as well as the M4 Freeway travelling in a northery direction, opposite North End Prison.

Municipal spokesman, Kupido Baron confirmed that the municipality had activated a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to monitor developments as the South African Weather Office predicted heavy rain throughout the night until the early hours of tomorrow.

“Water levels on some of the roads are rising at this stage and motorists are reminded that road conditions are challenging due to wet road surfaces,” he said.

Baron confirmed that Disaster Management Officials were currently busy with the assessment of lower lying areas to determine if intervention was required.

“At this stage the R75 into Uitenhage is currently closed as well as the left lane of the M4 Freeway in a Northerly direction opposite North End Prison. Beach Road between 6th and 8th Avenue is currently flooded. We are also in the process of closing Old Uitenhage Road as it is waterlogged,” he said.

- Metro Newspaper

Swartbergpas weer oop

SUID-KAAP NUUS - Die Swartbergpas is vandag heeltemal oopgestel vir verkeer nadat dit vir drie maande gedeeltelik gesluit was vir noodsaaklike onderhoudswerk.

“Die pas was weekliks van Maandae tot Donderdae gesluit vir onderhoudswerk aan die padoppervlak,” het Kobus Theron van die Sentraal-Karoo Distriksmunisipaliteit gesê. Die pas is oor naweke oopgestel vir verkeer.

Die onderhoudswerk is hoofsaaklik gedoen op ‘n stuk pad van sowat 2,5km aan die Prins Albert-kant van die pas waar die pas die afgelope paar jaar sleg deurgeloop het ondervloedskade.” Daar is nie aan strukture gewerk nie.

Die koste van die onderhoudswerk beloop sowat R1,5miljoen. Nog werk deur die Provinsiale Administrasie op ‘n kontrak ter waarde van sowat R2.1miljoen is ook bykans voltooi. Die kontrak het herstelwerk an keermure en verbeterings van die dreineringstelsel ingesluit.

Nog ‘n inisiatief wat deur die Departement van Omgewingsake in samewerking met die provinsiale Departement van Vervoer aangepak sal word, word nog beplan. Dié projek sal onder meer werk aan die klipmure insluit.

Staalnette en keermure wat teen steil berghange langs paaie en in passe aangebring is, het tydens winterstorms gesorg dat geen verdere rotsstortings voorkom nie.

Die nette is as voorkomende maatreël teen die onstabiele hellings langs die pad tussen Oudtshoorn en George, in die Outeniquapas en in die Huisrivierpas aangebring word om rotsstortings te voorkom.

“Ons wil die departemente bedank wat ons ‘n jaar gelede in ons tyd van nood bygestaan het toe Oudtshoorn deur rotsstortings van die buitewêreld afgesny is,” sê Piet Lodder, hoofbestuurder van Agri Klein Karoo. “Die werk wat hulle gedoen het is van onskatbare waarde en ons wil he hulle moet weet ons waardeer dit.”

ARTIKEL: TISHA STEYN

Kwazulu Natal: Road closures due to heavy rain

The heavy rain has been wrecking havoc on Durban roads this morning. Here's a list of the roads that have been closed or affected due to the downpour.

- Durban Metro Police say two lanes of the N3 eastbound just before Tollgate Bridge have been closed.

- Rick Turner Road (Francois) between UKZN'S Gate 6 at the Old Mutual Sports Hall and Bellair Road has been CLOSED

- Old Main Road westbound in Pinetown close to Home Affairs CLOSED (unconfirmed by Metro)

- Corner of Josiah Gumede and Anderson Rd is flooded, also in Pinetown

- There is flooding on the Brickfield road on-ramp to the N3, incoming

- A section of the M4 Ruth First Highway near the Sibaya off-ramp has become severely waterlogged.

- A manhole cover has come off at the intersection of MacDonald and Nicholson Roads in Glenwood. Proceed cautiously.

- Huge puddle reported on the M13, near the Crompton Street Bridge.

- Reports of a big pothole on Manning Road, on the southbound side, near Bulwer Park.

- Sarnia Road coming from Malvern towards Hillary there is a nasty pothole where the road has washed away

- Flooding on the M13, the N2 near the old airport and on the N2 between M41 and Queen Nandi Drive

- Reports of fallen trees on Umgeni Road in Durban.

- East Coast Radio News

SAWDOS: Road Closures during Severe Weather and Disasters.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  ROAD CLOSURES, ROAD CONDITIONS DURING DISASTERS OR SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.

The SAWDOS deem it necessary to inform the general public that the SAWDOS provided information of  road closures during disasters or severe weather events on it's Twitter page or Blog page in the past.  It is not the function of  the SAWDOS to provide such information to the general public.

The SAWDOS  will in future not provide listed information on road closures during disasters or severe weather events.  This has the implication that the public will in future not see published topics called: "Road Closures in South Africa due to Severe Weather".

This does not mean that the public will be left in the dark about road closures or road conditions.  The SAWDOS added the following page to the SAWDOS Blog Pages section:  "Traffic Twitter Updates" which can be accessed from the SAWDOS home page.  (Just click on the heading Traffic Twitter Updates. )  Here you will be able to get the latest Nationwide Traffic updates for South Africa, tweeted as it happens ~ a fully interactive service or if you so wish you can send a tweet directly to TrafficSA for route advice.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SAWDOS WILL NOT ANSWER ANY SMS'S + EMAILS PERTAINING TO ROAD CONDITIONS OR ROAD CLOSURES IN FUTURE!!

The SAWDOS does not provide traffic or alternative road information on a daily or subscription basis.  South Africa has several traffic information services that render an outstanding services to the general public on a daily basis and the SAWDOS would like to recommend that these organizations be contacted for daily traffic and road condition information.

Some of these organizations are:

TrafficSA - http://twitter.com/#!/trafficsa or simply go to the home page of SAWDOS and click on TrafficSA Twitter Updates.
Arrive Alive - http://www.arrivealive.co.za/
Road Safety Blog - http://roadsafety.co.za/
JAMLINE - 084 5265463
AA - http://www.aa.co.za/live/index.php
SANRAL - http://www.nra.co.za/live/index.php
Disaster Management

Johan Terblanche
Founder: SAWDOS
Mossel Bay
13 August 2012

Images: N3 Traffic Back-Up: Estcourt / Mooi River

Image: Backlog between Estcourt and Mooirivier - Yusuf Yacoob Vahed (Click on image for larger view.)

Al Imdaad Foundation - 100s of vehicles stranded on the N3 recieved Emergency food packs - Yusuf Yacoob Vahed (Click on image for larger view.

Road Closures in South Africa due to Severe Weather (9 August 2012)

The following roads and mountain passes are closed to traffic due to severe weather:

PLEASE NOTE THAT SEVERE WEATHER HAS SUBSIDED.  THE SAWDOS WILL NOT UPDATE THIS TOPIC ANYMORE.  WE WILL INSTEAD USE SAWDOS TWITTER AVAILABLE AT http://sawdis1.blogspot.com/p/sawdis-twitter.html   DIRECT UPDATES AVAILABLE FROM @TRAFFICSA.  FOLLOW TRAFICSA AT @TrafficSA ON TWITTER.

1.  Eastern Cape - R61 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Queenstown and Cofimvaba due to snow / ice

2.  Eastern Cape - N9 Route, ROAD OPEN between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg -Lootsberg Pass

3.  Eastern Cape - R61 Route, ROAD OPEN between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock - Wapadsberg Pass

4.  Western Cape - ROADS OPEN  Montague & Touwsrivier, Prince Albert & Oudtshoorn, and Montague & Oudtshoorn 

5.  Eastern Cape-  ROAD OPEN between Whittlesea and Symour - Nico Malan Pass

6.  Eastern Cape - ROAD CLOSED between Elliot and Barkly East - Barkly Pass - Snowfall

7.  Kwazulu Natal - ROAD OPEN  KZN / Free State  N3 Route, Van Reenens Pass

8. Free State - R712 Route, ROAD OPEN between Qwa-Qwa and Clarens

9.  Western Cape - R328 Swartberg Pass, ROAD CLOSED between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert due to snow

10. Western Cape - R62 Route, ROAD OPEN (STOP AND GO) between Ashton and Montagu

11.   Free State - R74 Route, ROAD OPEN  - Oliviershoek Pass between Harrismith and Bergville.

12.  KZN - R617 Route, ROAD OPEN between Swartberg and Underberg

13.   KZN / Eastern Cape - N2 Route, ROAD OPEN between Kokstad and Mount Ayliff

14.   Free State - R34 Route, ROAD OPEN between Vrede and Memel

15.  Eastern Cape - N6 Route, ONE LANE OPEN  between Jamestown and Queenstown due to snow at Penhoek Pass

16.   KZN - R74 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Muden and Greytown due to #snow

18   Free State - R74 Route, ROAD CLOSED due to snow at Oliviershoek Pass (Harrismith - Bergville road)
19.  KZN - R33 and R74 routes, BOTH ROADS CLOSED approaching Greytown from the Dundee and Colenso areas snow

TO BE UPDATED.

Many thanks to @TrafficSA and ALGOA FM, RADIO SONDER GRENSE for keeping us informed.

PLEASE NOTIFY THE SAWDOS OF ANY ROAD CLOSURES IN YOUR AREA AS A RESULT OF SEVERE WEATHER. THIS WAY WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

SAWDOS Twitter:  @SAWDOS1
SAWDOS FACEBOOK:   http://www.facebook.com/groups/374316165928426/
SAWDOS EMAIL: Click HERE.
SAWDOS SMS: 076 251 3482 - Please use this number to only report severe weather, disasters or road closures.  DO NOT USE THIS NUMBER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS OR ROAD CLOSURES!!

Western Cape Roads re-opened.

All major roads, apart from the R62 between Ashton and Montagu, were safe and open to traffic on Wednesday, a Western Cape official said.

Transport spokesman Al-Ameen Kafaar said the R62 was opened at 6pm on Wednesday and motorists should expect a stop-go traffic flow.

“Maintenance teams are filling up a portion of the collapsed road through the Kogmanskloof pass. It flooded when the Kesie and Kingna Rivers burst their banks due to the heavy rains,” Kafaar said.

He said the all other major routes and passes including the N1, N2, N7, Route 62 to Ashton and to Uniondale, Sir Lowry's Pass, Meiringspoort and the Mossel Bay Pass in the Western Cape were unaffected.

- Sapa

Images: Chaos - Van Rheenens Pass (7 - 8 August 2012)

Images: NATUREBOY SMALBOY via TrafficSA (Click on images for larger view.)

Road Closures in South Africa due to Severe Weather (7 August 2012)

The following roads and mountain passes are closed to traffic due to severe weather:

1.  Eastern Cape - R61 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Queenstown and Cofimvaba due to snow / ice

2.  Eastern Cape - N9 Route, ROAD OPEN between Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg -Lootsberg Pass

3.  Eastern Cape - R61 Route, ROAD OPEN between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock - Wapadsberg Pass

4.  Western Cape - ROADS CLOSED between Ashton & Montague, Montague & Touwsrivier, Prince Albert & Oudtshoorn, and Montague & Oudtshoorn - Snowfall

5.  Eastern Cape-  ROAD CLOSED between Whittlesea and Symour - Nico Malan Pass - Snowfall

6.  Eastern Cape - ROAD CLOSED between Elliot and Barkly East - Barkly Pass - Snowfall

7.  Kwazulu Natal - ROAD CLOSED AGAIN  KZN / Free State  N3 Route, Van Reenens Pass - Snowfall.

8. Free State - R712 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Qwa-Qwa and Clarens due to snow

9.  Western Cape - R328 Swartberg Pass, ROAD CLOSED between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert due to snow

10. Western Cape - R62 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Ashton and Montagu due to flooding

11.   Free State - R74 Route, ROAD CLOSED  - Oliviershoek Pass between Harrismith and Bergville due to snow

12.  KZN - R617 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Swartberg and Underberg due to #snow

13.   KZN / Eastern Cape - N2 Route, ROAD OPEN between Kokstad and Mount Ayliff

14.   Free State - R34 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Vrede and Memel due to snow (note: this is a Van Reenens Pass closure detour route)

15.  Eastern Cape - N6 Route, ONE LANE OPEN  between Jamestown and Queenstown due to snow at Penhoek Pass

16.   KZN - R74 Route, ROAD CLOSED between Muden and Greytown due to #snow

TO BE UPDATED.

Many thanks to @TrafficSA and ALGOA FM, RADIO SONDER GRENSE for keeping us informed.

PLEASE NOTIFY THE SAWDOS OF ANY ROAD CLOSURES IN YOUR AREA AS A RESULT OF SEVERE WEATHER. THIS WAY WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

SAWDOS Twitter:  @SAWDOS1
SAWDOS FACEBOOK:   http://www.facebook.com/groups/374316165928426/
SAWDOS EMAIL: Click HERE.
SAWDOS SMS: 076 251 3482 - Please use this number to only report severe weather, disasters or road closures.  DO NOT USE THIS NUMBER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS OR ROAD CLOSURES!!

Snow causes treacherous driving conditions

(Above: Paramedics attend to injured motorists at an accident scene in Nottingham Road. Photo: Netcare911)

The N3 toll Concession says Van Reneen's Pass has been closed to traffic again.

The N3TC has advised motorists to avoid travel on the route until the weather situation stabilises.

Earlier, some traffic was allowed through after graders were used to help clear the road and assist those whose vehicles were stuck in the snow.

Military vehicles drove up and down the road shortly before it was re-opened to test whether the Pass was safe for use.

Snow has fallen all the way from Harrismith to Hilton, just outside Pietermaritzburg, along the N3.

Listeners who called our News and Views lines say they've experienced slippery conditions on the roads.

"I am currently on my way on the Howick road to Underberg (R617). The roads are actually quite treacherous and dangerous. There is a vehicle that just flipped a few metres ahead of me, and I tried to stop my vehicle and it looks like my brakes have frozen in," said a concerned motorist.

"We are heading passed Michaelhouse. It is absolutely blanketed white and believe it or not - we have got a grader grading the snow out of the road in front of us," said another motorist.

- East Coast Radio - Durban

Snow closes SA border posts

Heavy snowfalls have caused the closure of several border posts between South Africa and Lesotho, the National Border Operational Committee said on Tuesday.

These borders are in the Free State and the Eastern Cape, said spokesman William Mpye.

"The Qacha's Nek and Caledonspoort border posts were closed. Both posts will remain closed until further notice," he said.

The situation at the Monantsha Pass post was classified as dangerous and travellers were advised not to try and use the crossing.

Mpye said the Telle Bridge, Ongeluks Nek and Ramatsiliso posts remained open, but were inaccessible to heavy vehicles.

- TIMES LIVE