UPDATE ON FLOODED AND SUBMERGED ROADS IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE
The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management advises all motorists travelling in and out of the Province to drive cautiously and cooperate with law enforcement on flooded roads.
Some roads especially in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, are impassable and undrivable due to torrential rains experienced.
The N14 between Vryburg and Kuruman is still flooded and remain closed. Overnight rain in Vryburg and Taung led to the closure of N18 near Tigerkloof.
The road linking Schweizer Reneke and Bloemhof is also flooded and impassable and is also closed.
Other local and rural routes affected are Taung to Reivilo in Mokgareng, Pudumong to Matlapaneng and Choseng respectively, Madipelesa adjacent to Pampierstad and other villages around Kgomotso. Villages which according to the South African Police are inaccessible include Mmadithamaga, Shaleng, Kameelpits, Rietfontein and Mountainview.
Villages that are completely isolated and unreachable are Tamasikwa, Takaneng and Qho as bridges are submerged. Taung Dam is reported to be overflowing which may exacerbate the situation in surrounding villages of Cokonyane, Modimong, Manthe and Kolong.
Law enforcement alongside other Government stakeholders are still assisting motorists and assessing the situation.
It has unfortunately come to the attention of the Department that some motorists have ignored an advisory and drove through flooded roads. Some of these motorists were stranded midway and were ultimately rescued by the law enforcement officers.
The Department wishes to appeal to all motorists to corporate with law enforcement officers and all other State officials on duty to avoid further disaster.
Monitoring of the situation is continuous and soon as it is safe to do so, roads will be opened for traffic.
ENDS!!!
ISSUED BY THE NORTH WEST DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
