Garden Route district municipality
Heavy rains, flooding, rough seas and snow have caused widespread disruption across the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, with thousands of residents evacuated, roads closed and emergency shelters overwhelmed as disaster teams race to respond to the severe weather crisis.
More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across Nelson Mandela Bay, where overcrowded facilities are housing families, elderly residents, women and children displaced by persistent flooding.
Humanitarian organisations and disaster management teams have issued urgent appeals for donations including long-life milk, cereal, drinking water, nappies, baby wipes, toiletries, blankets and mattresses as relief operations intensify.
“More than 2,000 flood victims are currently being accommodated in 25 emergency shelters across the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro,” Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said.
“Gift of the Givers drop-off centres have been set up at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Boardwalk Mall and the Engen garage next to the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality confirmed that more than 1,500 residents had already been evacuated from flood-affected communities by Wednesday evening, with shelters established at Missionvale Primary School, Kleinskool, Lilian Ngoyi Community Hall in KwaZakhele, Xaba Hall in Langa, Kabah Living Waters Church in Kariega, Airport Valley in Walmer, Walmer Town Hall and Qunu community facilities.
Municipal disaster teams, together with Gift of the Givers, SASSA, SAPS, EMS and provincial disaster management authorities, remain deployed across the Metro providing food, healthcare support, blankets and emergency humanitarian assistance.
NSRI rescue operation in North End
NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander Simon Williams said rescue teams responded in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a security guard was trapped in a flooded building along the shoreline below the M4 Freeway at the North End Lighthouse.
“At 02h30, Wednesday, 6 May, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the TNPA security office reporting a security guard trapped in a building on the shoreline below the M4 Freeway at the North End Lighthouse,” Williams said.
NSRI rescue swimmers and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Fire and Rescue Services responded, navigating floodwaters along the shoreline roadway for approximately 1.5 kilometres to reach the site.
The building, already flooded to waist height and surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, could initially not be accessed, while the security guard remained trapped inside holding the gate keys.
The man was instructed to remain in place until rescue teams could reach him safely.
Rescue swimmers removed sections of barbed wire to access the property and reached the 29-year-old man inside the flooded structure.
“The man, in good spirits, was kitted into personal protective gear and a life-jacket, and in the care of NSRI rescue swimmers he was waded to the fence gate,” Williams said.
Kariega bridge flooding raises safety concerns
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya confirmed that emergency teams are urgently responding to flooding at the Niven Bridge, also known as the Cuyler Bridge, in Kariega following heavy rainfall in the area.
Motorists and residents have been urged to avoid crossing the bridge as water levels continue rising and overflowing across the roadway.
Emergency and disaster response teams are monitoring the situation closely to ensure public safety, while residents have been encouraged to use alternative routes where possible and report emergencies to municipal authorities.
Authorities warned that the danger is far from over as forecasts continue to indicate disruptive rainfall, rising water levels and possible localised flooding in vulnerable communities.
Beaches closed amid dangerous sea conditions
Nelson Mandela Bay beaches have also been placed under temporary precautionary closure due to dangerous coastal conditions linked to Level 6 and Level 8 weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service.
Residents have been strongly advised to stay away from beaches, rocky shorelines and tidal pools as high swells, rough surf conditions, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding continue to threaten public safety.
Cemetery closures announced due to flooding
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has issued a public notice informing residents, funeral undertakers and stakeholders that no burials will be permitted at several municipal cemeteries from 7 May 2026 until further notice due to ongoing adverse weather conditions, flooding and waterlogged ground.
The affected cemeteries include Wells Estate, Bluewater Bay, Motherwell, New Brighton, KwaZakhele, Veeplaas, Papenkuils, Kabah, Gerald Smith and Despatch.
The Municipality says the precautionary measure has been implemented in the interest of public health, safety and operational compliance, and has urged affected parties to make alternative arrangements until conditions improve and sites are declared operational again.
Authorities have appealed for cooperation and patience as conditions continue to be monitored, with further updates to be communicated through official municipal platforms.
Business operations disrupted by flooding
Ongoing flooding and inclement weather continued to disrupt the operations of businesses around the metro for a second day in a row.
Most factories have reported that they have been able to continue with their operations, despite in some cases experiencing flooding of warehouses and other facilities.
Businesses located in the Baakens Valley area were in particular hard hit by flooding, as well as business operations in the Neave Korsten and North End areas.
Deal Party has been severely affected by road closures.
Higher than normal absenteeism levels were reported across the board, while most businesses allowed staff to work remotely where possible.
The Chamber is working with Gift of the Givers to provide critical assistance to communities affected by the inclement weather and its offices are serving as a drop-off point for supplies. Required items include water, non-perishable food, toiletries, nappies, bedding and clothing, says Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
Garden route relief operations continue
Relief and shelter efforts will continue across the Garden Route district today (Thursday) as several communities remain affected by severe weather conditions.
However, authorities say water levels are expected to start subsiding, with most runoff likely clearing by this afternoon.
According to the Garden Route Multi-Agency Command Centre, more than 20 people are currently being housed at the Toekomsrust Community Hall in Oudtshoorn, where food and blankets have been provided to displaced residents.
The command centre says the worst affected area is Bitou Municipality.
Algoa FM news correspondent Louise Karsten reports that more than 50 people are being sheltered at the Kranshoek Griqua Church, while nearly 80 others are at the Wittedrift Community Hall.
Piesang Valley Hall has also been opened as a precaution, with the Keurbooms River expected to rise which could cut off access to parts of the area.
Residents stranded at De Vlugt in the George municipal area have chosen not to evacuate despite the Keurbooms River flowing strongly through the area.
According to the Garden Route District Municipality, around 70 people remain cut off and have requested food supplies through the Municipality’s Multi-Agency Command Centre.
GRDM Fire Chief Deon Stoffels said the Western Cape Government will assist by providing a helicopter to deliver food to the affected residents.
In the George region, Haarlem remains isolated due to flooded roads, including routes from Uniondale and via Die Poort.
Meanwhile, the N9 between Herold and Uniondale is experiencing flooding, leading to restricted access.
Kouga Dam overflowing
Flood risks have also escalated dramatically in the Gamtoos Valley after the Kouga Dam exceeded capacity and reached 113%.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has meanwhile welcomed the recent rainwater runoff observed in local catchment areas, describing the substantial rainfall recorded in the western dam catchments as an encouraging development.
Municipal officials confirmed that the Churchill Dam is currently overflowing, while ongoing updates on dam levels will continue to be shared with the public.
Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman urged residents in low-lying communities along the Gamtoos River to evacuate immediately as a precaution against potentially devastating floods.
“The Kouga Dam is currently at 113% and overflowing extremely fast and we are asking as a precautionary measure for all people in low-lying areas on the Gamtoos River to please evacuate their residences as soon as possible,” Bornman said.
Communities including Kingsway Village, Big Fish, Gamtoos Mouth Resort, the Ferry Hotel area and surrounding low-lying settlements were placed on high alert, while evacuation shelters were opened at the Katrina Felix Hall in Thornhill and the Loerie Community Hall.
Farmers were also urged to relocate livestock, farming equipment and machinery to safer areas to prevent major losses.
Roads flooded across the province
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport confirmed that several roads and low-lying bridges had been affected by flooding, particularly in farming areas around Joubertina and surrounding towns.
The N2 near John Tallant in Nelson Mandela Bay was among the roads rendered inaccessible due to floodwaters, while traffic officers were deployed to monitor and manage traffic in affected areas.
Although snowfall has been reported in high-lying areas including Lootsberg Pass near Middelburg, Wapadsberg in Nxuba and areas around Lady Grey, officials confirmed that major mountain passes remain open.
Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said emergency teams were monitoring dangerous conditions across large parts of the province.
“We are dealing with extremely dangerous weather conditions in large parts of the Eastern Cape with heavy rains, strong winds and now rough seas that have impacted some of our major routes,” Binqose said.
“We have also received reports of mudslides and rock falls in areas such as Chris Hani and Amathole, but our teams are on the ground managing the situation.”
Motorists have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to never attempt to cross flooded roads or bridges as emergency teams continue monitoring conditions across the province.
Severe Weather Alerts Continue
The South African Weather Service has issued multiple impact-based weather warnings for Thursday, 07 May 2026, affecting large parts of the Eastern Cape and Garden Route.
An Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall remains in place over Koukamma, Kouga and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, with widespread flooding of roads, settlements and bridges expected, although conditions are expected to improve from midday.
Additional Orange and Yellow level rain warnings cover several inland municipalities, while snow warnings ranging from Yellow Level 2 to Orange Level 5 are in effect over parts of the Drakensberg and surrounding districts, with risks of pass closures and travel disruption.
Strong damaging winds and dangerous coastal conditions have also been forecast along coastal and inland areas, including the stretch between Plettenberg Bay and Port Edward, where rough seas may disrupt ports, harbours and beachfront infrastructure.
Authorities urge continued vigilance as emergency response operations remain active
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as adverse weather conditions continue to affect large parts of the Eastern Cape.
Emergency and disaster management teams remain on high alert and are expected to continue with response, rescue and monitoring operations as the situation develops.
The public is encouraged to follow only verified official updates and to prioritise safety by avoiding unnecessary travel and high-risk areas until conditions improve.
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