GEORGE NEWS - Although no major incidents were reported this week, heavy rainfall over Monday and Tuesday, 3 and 4 June, led to localised flooding in the George municipal area.
According to George Municipality's head of communications Chantèl Edwards, a total of 79 pieces of Gunplas (weatherproof plastic) were issued, primarily for informal settlements in Rosedale and Thembalethu.
Five car accidents, with no serious injuries, occurred in various locations including the R102, N2 Gwaiing Bridge, Garden Route Mall, N2 Pacaltsdorp and Outeniqua Pass.
Fallen trees were reported at several locations including Thembalethu, Potgieter se Dam, Harry Comay Hospital, Hoekwil and Wilderness, all promptly removed by George Fire Services.
Parks and Recreation also responded to fallen trees at Herold's Bay and Bridge Road. About 10 sandbags were issued to community members.
The Gwaiing landfill site access remains closed until further notice, with updates to be issued, while the municipality tended to 44 storm water complaints.
The municipality asked that residents keep all green bag waste until next week, as work on the landfill site is severely hampered by the muddy conditions. The municipality hopes to be able to resume green bag collection next week and the backlog will be collected on the scheduled service days.
No roads in George were closed due to flooding.
According to the South African Weather Services, Dieprivier (Wilderness) recorded 209,8mm, Witfontein 126mm and Tierkop 114,8mm. 100mm was recorded by residents in Herold's Bay, 160mm in Herold, 140mm in Fernridge, 100mm in Groenkloof and 130mm in Kraaibosch.
Courtenay Street in flood at the traffic light to Hope Street on Tuesday morning. Photo: Kristy Kolberg
Combined overflows in the Oudtshoorn area from the Stompdrift Dam, Kammanassie Dam, the Olifants River and the Koos Raubenheimer and Gamkapoort dams affected families located close to the river and the police diving unit had to evacuate 11 people from Welgeluk.
Head of communications at the Garden Route District Municipality Herman Pieters said it is however important to understand that most of the water that caused the dams to overflow, comes from the Northern and Eastern Cape.
Road closures
Several key routes in the Oudtshoorn area remain inaccessible due to adverse weather conditions. Meiringspoort and Swartberg Pass are closed, as well as the N12 between Oudtshoorn and De Rust.
The road adjacent to the Raubenheimer Dam is also closed and the Volmoed Road is closed due to rockfalls. Joncksrust Road near Uniondale has been closed due to rockfalls and the Prince Alfred Pass between Uniondale and Knysna remains closed due to rockfalls and flooding.
Herold's Bay earlier this week. Photo: Johan Kroep
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