Heritage Day throwback: When floods brought the N2 to a standstill
· The South African
Heavy rain and flooding disrupted Heritage Day celebrations across the Western Cape in 2023, affecting roads, communities and travel over the public-holiday weekend.
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The severe weather struck on 24 and 25 September, with the Overberg, Cape Winelands and other parts of the province among the affected areas.
The flooding damaged roads and infrastructure, forced evacuations and disrupted travel over the long weekend.
Roads washed away as rivers burst their banks
One of the most dramatic impacts came in the Overberg, where the Bot River burst its banks and washed away part of the N2 between Caledon and Grabouw.
SANRAL confirmed on 25 September that floodwater had damaged the N2 at Bot River, forcing authorities to close the road.
The flooding created major problems for motorists travelling over the long weekend.
The disruption extended across the province. The Western Cape Government later reported that the weather system had forced the closure of 154 roads, including sections of major routes.
Flooding forced communities to evacuate
The rain also affected homes and communities.
The provincial disaster management centre was activated on Heritage Day as the situation deteriorated.
Its annual report states that authorities upgraded the weather warning to Orange Level 9 for disruptive rain in parts of the Overberg and Cape Winelands.
At least 11 people reported died in the flooding.
A Heritage Day weather event still remembered
The September 2023 floods were later classified as a National Disaster. Damage assessments put the cost at R441 million for provincial infrastructure and a further R154 million for municipal infrastructure.
For Heritage Day, the 2023 event offers a reminder that spring weather can change dramatically, particularly when a cut-off low develops over the country.
What began as a public-holiday weekend became a major flooding event that affected roads, communities and infrastructure across the Western Cape.
Did the Heritage Day 2023 floods affect you or your travel plans?