Multiple road closures remain in place after Western Cape flooding | News24

The Swartberg Pass remains closed after the flooding. (Getty Images)

• A number of Western Cape roads remain closed following heavy rain.
• Among them are Meiringspoort and Swartberg Passes.
• The severe weather resulted in flooding in several parts of the province last week.

Several roads in the Western Cape remain closed following heavy rainfall and flooding last week

Among the affected roads are the Meiringspoort and Swartberg Passes in Oudtshoorn, and flooded Noord Street.

The Oudtshoorn municipality said extensive construction work was under way on Meiringspoort Pass, including the rebuilding of sections of the road and repairs to ditches that had formed along the riverbanks. The conditions pose a serious danger to motorists, according to the municipality.

Motorists have also been advised to avoid low water bridges in the area.

The road between Oudtshoorn and De Rust has been reopened, as well as the Cango Caves road. But motorists were advised to drive with caution along the Cango Caves road due to rock falls.

READ | Cape Town floods: 9 000 people to get aid as tally of victims climbs ‘by the hundreds every hour’

One lane of the R328, which leads to the Cango Mountain Resort, is operational, but motorists have been advised to drive carefully along the road because it is not in a good condition.

Several roads in the Overberg, West Coast and Cape Winelands districts remain closed, including the R316 Arniston road, and DR1212 and DR1213, linking Arniston and Struisbaai and the Buffeljags River bridge.

The province has been battered by severe weather, with flooding reported in multiple suburbs in Cape Town.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation previously aided around 9 000 people after their homes were flooded.

The City of Cape Town said an estimated 1 200 homes had been flooded in 41 informal settlements. Affected areas included Khayelitsha, Strand, Gugulethu, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Wallacedene, Vygieskraal, Bloekombos and Hout Bay.

News24 previously reported that 88 families were trapped by floodwater in Oudtshoorn.

In addition, 17 people were rescued across the province.

Eleven people – three women, four men and four children – were rescued from Welgeluk in Oudtshoorn, and six others – one woman and five men – were airlifted from Meiringspoort Pass.