Johannesburg: The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution as flooding has affected multiple roads. 'Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution as widespread flooding is affecting multiple roads across Nelson Mandela Bay. Several routes are either impassable or hazardous,' the municipality said on Wednesday.
According to South African Government News Agency, inclement weather has battered parts of the country with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) having issued several weather warnings. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has urged all South Africans to exercise heightened caution following severe weather warnings issued by SAWS.
The municipality identified several roads as severely affected, including the M4 behind the Cemetery towards Deal Party and between Deal Party and Mount Road, Addo Road under the train bridge, and the N2 near John Tallant Interchange. Additionally, Redhouse Road from Uitenhage to Gqeberha is nearly submerged, and Veeplaas and Daku Roads, as well as 3rd Avenue Dip, are closed. Mbane Street in Zwide and Mount Road are heavily flooded.
Flooded routes include the Sydenham turn-off onto the M4 towards Summerstrand, Walker Drive in Sherwood, Durban Road behind Stanford Square, and multiple sections of Stanford Road, including near Auto Cast Rd and Korsten. Other affected areas are Strandfontein and La Roche corner, Swartkops M17, Target Kloof, Chatty Dip, the entrance to Despatch, parts of William Moffett, Milner Avenue opposite North End Lake, Burt Drive behind Mercantile Hospital, Highfield Road, Govan Mbeki Avenue in Pier 14 area, and Malabar Bridge.
In Newton Park and its surroundings, 7th Avenue between Shirley and King Edward Street and Newton Street between 4th and 5th Avenue are notably affected by flooding.
The municipality emphasized that motorists should not drive through flooded roads, stating, 'Water depth is often misleading and may hide debris or washed-away surfaces. Even shallow, fast-moving water can sweep away a vehicle.'
