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As the provincial government began counting the cost of the heavy flooding that uprooted families and destroyed homes in the Eastern Cape, a new cold front saw snowfalls which led to the closure of several roads.
“We recommend that motorists either delay their travels or use alternative routes,” transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said.
The affected roads included the Penhoek Pass on the N6 between Komani and James Calata; the R58 at the Barkly Pass towards Khowa (formerly Elliot) and between Barkly East and Lady Grey; the Wapadsberg Pass on the R61 between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock; and the R67 from Whittlesea to Seymour at the Nico Malan Pass.
The N6 from Maletswai towards James Calata was cleared for cars only as the road was partially blocked by stranded vehicles.
The SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued a disruptive snow warning for Tuesday across high-lying parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Video clips and images emerged on social media on Tuesday showing homes and roads covered in a blanket of white.
The N2 into Gqeberha was closed for three hours on Tuesday morning as high tides covered inbound lanes in rocks and debris.
In the Buffalo City Metro, residents were still picking up the pieces on Tuesday after the devastating deluge.
A distraught Nobesiba Mbutho, whose Braelyn home was among those damaged by floods at the weekend, said: “Seeing all my hard work ruined by rain was tormenting and heartbreaking.
“I am unemployed, and now I have to find ways of rebuilding my home for my children.
“Everything happened so fast and it was overwhelming ... water started to seep under the door, and it was gushing into my house.”
Mbutho was speaking on Tuesday when premier Oscar Mabuyane, human settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi and Buffalo City Metro mayor Princess Faku visited displaced residents sheltered at the Clement Kadalie Community Hall.
Nwabisa Metu, from the Inkandla informal settlement, said: “We have been living in the community hall for three days. Some of us have no clothes or belongings left.
“Having to share a place to stay with hundreds of people is awkward and scary.
“Some of us have toddlers and infants to take care of.”
Some of the displaced Braelyn residents were housed at a local church as there was not enough space to accommodate all of them.
Nosize Gogode, who has four children, said they were waiting for RDP houses.
“Even the church is damp and crowded.”
On Tuesday, about 210 residents received grocery hampers, while the provincial government and municipality promised an intervention.
In Cambridge township, 142 food parcels were distributed.
Gift of the Givers handed out 1,089 food parcels on Monday.
Mabuyane said: “After meeting relevant national ministers, we will package a permanent solution to a number of challenges faced by BCM and the province.
“We are a disaster-prone province, and we must internalise that because we are a coastal province and are always affected by bad weather.”
Mabuyane said the province would also get social relief assistance from the Western Cape government.
“Communities are growing every day so congestion increases.
“The government needs to improve infrastructure, especially the drainage systems.
“Now that we know we are a disaster-prone province, we will ensure the drainage system will have as much capacity as possible.”.
He said the provincial government had started to put aside funding for disasters.
“We need money from the national government for rural provinces to deal with issues of infrastructure and development.”
Social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta’s spokesperson, Mphumzi Zuzile, said they were assessing the province-wide impact of the storms by deploying social workers to community halls housing displaced residents.
Sassa was providing food vouchers.
“We are hoping that by Thursday all the assessments will be complete.
“But some families have already gone back to their houses.”
It is understood that the department of social development has intervened to provide hot meals at community development centres.
MEC Lusithi said they were expecting to construct temporary residential units across the province over the weekend.
“We are expecting to allocate 302 residents for now, especially senior citizens and mothers with infants, in hostels and at BnBs.
“The national department is busy securing those, so that we take them away from community halls.
“We are also expecting to conclude a project to build 200 permanent units for affected families, as most of them are beneficiaries of RDP houses and are waiting for the construction of homes..”
Lusithi said permanent solutions took longer as they required verification checks of beneficiaries, which did not apply in emergencies.
Pheello Oliphant, spokesperson for co-operative governance MEC Zolile Williams, said their teams were still on the ground assessing the damage in affected areas.
“A consolidated report will be submitted with budget implications. This will also include the declaration on the state of the disaster.”
The heavy downpours have cause electricity outages across the province, according to Eskom provincial spokesperson Zama Mpondwana.
Buffalo City Metro, Chris Hani, the Joe Gqabi district, OR Tambo district and parts of the Amathole district have been affected and endured delays in the restoration of electricity supply.
“Despite the access restrictions posed by waterlogged terrain and snow-covered roads, Eskom technicians continue to attend to faults,” Mpondwana said.
“Strong winds and bad weather over the past few days are the reason for the increase in network faults in the province.”
SA Weather Service Eastern Cape meteorologist Nompumelelo Kleinbooi said cold, wet and windy weather was expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with snowfall in northern areas.
“The snow is expected to result in dangerous driving conditions, which has led to road closures,” Witbooi said.
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