Update 7: Garden Route Floods 17h00 Update on 6 June 2024

Issued by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Joint Operations Centre (JOC) at 17h00

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Areas where people are cut-off that have been reported to the GRDM DMC and to whom humanitarian assistance are being provided, include:

1) Varkenskraal, Meiringspoort (4 people)

2) Warmbad (90 families)

3) Muisplaas (30 families)

4) Nel’s River, De Rust (17 people)

5) Middelplaas (30 people)

6) Proefplaas Rooiheuwelpad (26 people)

To access relief offered by the NGO, Gift of the Givers, or if you’d like to contribute to this cause, kindly reach out to Mario Ferreira on 082 490 2752.

STATUS QUO

The GRDM’s JOC remains active at its Head Office in George. However, the water levels of the rivers are gradually decreasing. Gerhard Otto, GRDM Head of Disaster Management, stated, “The water levels thankfully did not reach the 1996 levels at the Calitzdorp Hot Springs. Although the water spilling from dams in the catchment matched the 1996 level, they did not peak simultaneously. This resulted in the river flow moving south in ‘waves’ rather than as a single, destructive giant wave.”

According to the latest update, water levels are still subsiding and reached the Gouritz and are flowing to sea.

Over the course of the incident, 17 people were rescued. These include four (4) women, nine (9) men and 4 children.

STATUS OF ROADS
ROADS THAT REMAIN CLOSED

Roads are proactively closed as the water flows to the southern part of the District towards the Gouritz area.

HESSEQUA

1) De Draai Road – between Albertinia and Riversdale a structure is damaged at km 26.5 (Alternative route available both sides)

2) Slangrivier – Road that provide access to the first community in Slangrivier (Alternative route to both sides)

MOSSEL BAY

1) Muiskraal /Herbertsdale road – Gouritzriver in flood (closed since 06/06/2024)
(Alternative routes available to both sides)

OUDTSHOORN

1) Kleinspoort Road between , Kamanassie river in flood (No alternative route available)

2) Waaikraal, Olifantsrivier river in flood (Alternative route available both sides)

3) Le Rouxstasie, Olifantsriver in flood (Alternative route via Dysseldorp)

4) Middelplaas, Olifantsrivier river in flood (No alternative route available)

5) Vlakteplaas, Olifantsriver in flood, Road washaways (Locals only)

6) Oude Muragie, Debris on drift (No alternative route)

7) Vergelegen, River in flood gravel wash aways. Locals only (No alternative route available)

8) Paardebond, River in flood (Locals only with 4 x 4)

9) Slangrivier, rift approaches washed away (No alternative route available)

10) Potgieterspoort, Major damage on road (Alternative route available to both sides)

11) Volmoed, Rockfalls (Alternative routes to both sides)

12) Kammanassie dam /Rooiheuwel, River in flood (Alternative route via Dysselsdorp)

13) Rooiloop, Olifants river big waterhole over road
(Alternative routes to both sides)

14) Meiringspoort (remains closed since 04/06/2024)
Alternative Route: Via the N9, Willowmore from Beaufort West.

15) N12 between Oudtshoorn and De Rust where the road crosses the Nel’s river (remains closed since 04/06/2024)
Alternative Route: Access via the Langkloof road.

16) Volmoed Road due to rockfalls (remains closed since 05/06/2024)
Alternative Route: Access via the R328 between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn.

17) Rooiheuwel Road (remains closed since 05/06/2024)
Alternative Route: Via Dysselsdorp.

GEORGE/WILDERNESS/UNIONDALE

1) Pietersrivier (Alternative route via Avontuur)

2) Vaalwater, Road washaways (No alternative route)

3) Kammanassie, River in flood (Locals only) (Alternative routes on both sides)

4) Toorwater, River in flood (Locals only)

5) DR1660 Joncksrust Road (or known as Kliprivier Road) (30km from Uniondale) due to rockfalls (remains closed since 04/06/2024)
(Alternative Route: Road is not fully cut-off, but can follow an alternative route via Avontuur)

6) Prince Alfred Pass between Uniondale and Knysna due to rockfalls and flooding (remains closed since 05/06/2024)
Alternative Route: No alternative route for this road.

7) Haarlem access on the west side is restricted (remains closed since 05/06/2024)
Alternative Route: Access possible from the east turn-off.

8) Oshoek, Approaches washed away. (No alternative route)

9) Gwaing, closed @ km 6.5 Structure washed away (Alternative routes on both sides)

KANNALAND

1) Gai se middelpad, Gamka river in flood (Alternative route available via Gamka west)

2) Jachtberg, Gamka river in flood (Alternative route available via Gamka west)

3) Doornkloof, Olifantsrivier river in flood (No alternative route available)

4) Vleirivier, Olifantsrivier river in flood (No alternative route available)

5) Middelpad, Olifantsrivier river in flood (No alternative route available)

ROADS OPENED AGAIN TODAY

OUDTSHOORN

1) DR1713/R328 adjacent to Raubenheimers Dam (enroute to Bergoord) – OPEN

2) R328 between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn – OPEN

3) Swartberg Pass – OPEN

4) Cango Caves – OPEN (One lane)

MOSSEL BAY

1) Geelbeksvlei Road – OPEN

KNYSNA

1) Rheenendal Road off the N2 – OPEN

For more roads information, please contact: Japie Strydom at 083 629 0155 / Gert Verwey at 082 882 8886.

STAY SAFE

People in areas near rivers or those who are considering to cross low-water bridges or structures should avoid doing so at all costs. If a residence is prone to flooding, people should move to higher ground to ensure the safety of family members, pets, and livestock. Do not attempt to walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters, as these can be deeper and faster-moving than what is assumed.

Report weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Emergency Call Centre on 044 805 5071.

Updates are posted to the GRDM Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/gardenroutedm

The next update is planned for 9h00 tomorrow, 7 June 2024.

Issued: GRDM Joint Operation Centre (JOC)