Motorists cautioned as rain and snow cause chaos on Eastern Cape roads
Buick Road, Markman
3rd Avenue, Newton Park
Altona Road, Greenbushes
Seaview Road, Seaview — waterlogged
Ngeni Street and surrounds, Kariega
Jabavu Road and surrounds, KwaNobuhle
KwaNobuhle Mantanzima Road and surrounds, KwaNobuhle
Parts of Cape Road — waterlogged
Cape Road between St Albans and Mission Road — emergency lane water logged
Maitlands Road, near Maitlands Beach
Maqanda Street, Kwazakele
Avenue A and surrounds, New Brighton
The entrance to the Nelson Mandela Bay Fresh Produce Market, in the Markman industrial area, is experiencing flooding and access to the market may be temporarily restricted.
Traffic spokesperson Unathi Binqose said several high-lying roads in parts of the province, which were closed due to snow, had been reopened under strict supervision of traffic officials. N2 between KwaBhaca (Mount Frere) and Kokstad — closure is imminent
N9 near Middelburg, at Lootsberg towards Graaff-Reinet — opened partially under strict supervision
R61, Wapadsberg towards Nxuba (Cradock) — partially reopened under strict supervision.
R58, Khowa (Elliot) at Barkly Pass towards Barkly East — open for smaller vehicles under strict supervision
'The N2 road between Chintsa and Brakfontein just outside East London is closed to traffic due to a fatal accident involving a minibus taxi,' he said.
'Motorists are urged to use alternative routes such as the old Transkei road.'
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Mail & Guardian
01-08-2025
- Mail & Guardian
SA's draft second climate plan calls for urgent action, global support
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'Highest possible ambition' In the document, South Africa expresses concern that the risk of overshooting 1.5°C is becoming ever more likely and 'we suffer 'We stand in solidarity with all peoples, particularly other African countries, whose capabilities to adapt are limited,' it said, adding that the global community must redouble efforts to reduce emissions rapidly after peaking, returning to global warming levels below 1.5°C after overshooting. Developed country economies must mobilise finance commensurate with 1.5°C. Ambition should not only apply to setting goals but to their implementation, it said. 'The climate crisis requires urgent action — now, throughout the rest of this critical decade, to 2035 — with a long-term perspective of a just transition to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.' South Africa believes that just transitions, for mitigation and adaptation, are 'core to shifting our development pathway to increased sustainability, fostering climate resilient and low greenhouse gas emissions development while providing a better life for all'. Climate impacts in SA Climate change is one of the 'greatest challenges of our generation', the document said, emphasising that global mitigation efforts fall short of what is needed to keep temperature increase below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 'Rising global emissions mean increasing impacts.' It warned that between 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming, negative impacts for the country are projected to become increasingly widespread and severe. These include reduced food production; slower economic growth; increased inequality and poverty; loss of biodiversity and increased human morbidity and mortality. Africa is warming at about 1.5 times the global average rate, unleashing more frequent and severe extreme weather events across the continent, and causing an increase in climate-related impacts in South Africa. Poor communities suffer the worst, while businesses and municipalities struggle to keep operations going during these events and 'recover to full operational capacity before experiencing the next extreme event'. The KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo and Eastern Cape are particularly vulnerable because of limited access to water and sanitation and high levels of food poverty. This is especially true for households relying on climate-sensitive work, such as rain-fed farming, fishing, and construction, and those with elderly, pregnant, disabled or young family members living in informal housing. 'Increasing impacts mean increasing adaptation needs and associated costs. And where the limits to adaptation are exceeded, increasing loss and damage. Loss and damage is here and now in South Africa,' the draft says. Future effects from climate extremes in heat and rainfall could reduce the country's GDP by 3% to 20% per capita, depending on the average global warming level. Infrastructure damage alone could cost up to $522 million annually at 2°C warming. Climate targets The country will prepare a comprehensive financing strategy to implement the mitigation and adaptation components of the second NDC, with core indicators and targets for 2030 and 2035. South Africa retains its 2021 emissions target range of 350-420 Mt CO2-eq (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2030, and introduces a new target of 320-380 Mt CO₂-eq by 2035. These are described as ambitious yet fair, considering the country's development challenges and historical emissions. 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The Herald
21-07-2025
- The Herald
Cold, wet weather to grip SA this week as schools reopen
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The Herald
08-07-2025
- The Herald
Hopes fade for Texas flood victims as death toll tops 95
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