Heavy snowfall forced the closure of several mountain passes in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape province since Sunday night [1].
The closures disrupt critical transport links in the region, creating hazardous conditions for motorists and leaving several vehicles stranded on key routes.
The Eastern Cape Transport Department managed the response to the weather event, which specifically affected areas including the R58 between Lady Grey and Ekhephini [1, 2]. Authorities said motorists should drive cautiously as the cold front swept across the province [2].
Reports on the scale of the closures vary between sources. The Transport Department said that five mountain passes were initially closed [1]. Other reports indicated that three mountain passes were closed [3]. Following initial closures, the department said three of the five affected routes have since been reopened [1].
Road crews have worked to clear the snow to restore access to isolated communities. The R58 remains a primary point of concern due to the volume of vehicles caught in the snowfall [2]. Local officials continue to monitor the weather patterns to determine if further closures are necessary to ensure public safety.
The Transport Department said that the priority remains the safe movement of traffic through the mountain passes. Motorists are advised to check road status updates before attempting to travel through the affected northern districts [1].
“Heavy snowfall forced the closure of several mountain passes in the northern parts of the Eastern Cape province.”
The closure of these passes highlights the vulnerability of the Eastern Cape's transport infrastructure to extreme weather events. Because these mountain routes often serve as the only viable links between rural towns and urban centers, sudden snowfall can effectively isolate entire communities and disrupt the regional supply chain until road crews can clear the passes.
