- Chapman's Peak Drive and Huguenot Tunnel in the Western Cape are closed due to strong winds.
- The SA Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Level 9 warning for wind damage in many parts of the state.
- Disaster management teams are on high alert.
Chapman's Peak Drive in Cape Town and the Huguenot Tunnel on the N1 motorway near Paarl have been closed to traffic as strong winds wreak havoc in the Western Cape.
Cape Town Transport spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said traffic officers were currently dealing with minor accidents and disturbances caused by wind and bad weather.
“Officers are clearing debris and tree branches from roads in various parts of the city,” he said.
Jacobs said this resulted in two sections of Baden-Powell Drive being closed to traffic.
“Roads are closed between Strandfontein Road and Capricorn Circle in Muizenberg and between Oscar Mpeta and Mew Way in Khayelitsha.”
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Western Cape Transport and Public Works Director of Communications Jandre Bakker told News24 that the Huguenot Tunnel and Chapman's Peak Drive between Noordhoek and Hout Bay are currently closed to traffic due to strong winds over the viaduct. He said he is doing so.
Strong winds also caused a truck trailer to be blown off the National Highway 1 bridge near the Huguenot tunnel.
According to the SA National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), strong winds of over 90km/h have been occurring since Saturday and the truck lost its cargo when the wind blew the trailer section off the viaduct and into the valley below.
SANRAL added: “High winds hampered efforts to recover another vehicle blown over the viaduct and the tunnel was closed to traffic until the obstruction on the viaduct was removed.”
The truck driver was able to get out of the truck in time and was unharmed.
Mike Vinello-Lippert, SANRAL's Huguenot Tunnel Project Manager, said: “We urge road users to exercise caution under these circumstances and to drive through the area as much as possible, especially in light of today's increased wind speeds. I urge you to avoid it.”
Capetonians took to social media to report damage to their homes from the strong winds, with some posting photos and videos of roofs blown off across the city.
Roofs were also blown off along the popular Strand Beach Road, and in Makassar, huge shipping containers from a sports field were blown onto the road, disrupting traffic in the area.
Mr Jacobs said traffic officers were assisting at Main Road and Rankin Street in the Strand, where the roof sheeting of a commercial property was blown off.
Cape Town traffic police are working hard to respond to incidents of trees being uprooted across the city.
Streets affected include Kramat Road and Old Main Road in Croydon, Makassar. Hildene Road, Tamborskloof. North Pine Drive and Tokai Road in North Pine, Oak Street and Andries Pretorius Street in Somerset West.
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Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredel said provincial disaster management was preparing for a cut-off low weather system expected to make landfall on Sunday night with widespread downpours and strong winds. He said the center is fully operational. across most of the state.
“We have received clarification from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). SAWS has noted an overall increase in the severity of the weather system compared to yesterday's assessment,” Bredell said.
“We now expect the impacts to be more widespread across the state and are particularly prepared for destructive Level 9 rain in the Overberg and southern Cape Winelands from Sunday evening into Monday. “There is,” he added.
SAWS on Sunday issued a Level 9 warning for wind damage that could lead to structural damage, power outages, injuries and loss of life in many parts of the state.
Bledel added that the disaster prevention center has indicated that Sunday's heavy rains will increase the potential risk of flooding and damage to infrastructure if further heavy rain and strong winds occur on Monday.
