A tragic minibus accident on Tuesday has claimed five lives near Cintsa on the N2, outside East London, amid worsening weather in the Eastern Cape.
What we know about the deadly accident
Authorities have confirmed that adverse road conditions played a key role in the incident.
The minibus, carrying six passengers, veered off the road and plunged into an embankment. Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose explained the situation:
“The driver was trying to avoid a tree that had fallen onto the road. In doing so, because it’s wet and slippery, he lost control of the vehicle. It veered off the road and fell down an embankment and ended up killing five people on impact.”
Two people survived: the driver and one passenger, who were treated at a local hospital.
The deceased—two men and three women—were taken to a mortuary in East London, where efforts are under way to identify them. The accident scene is still active, with emergency crews and police managing the response.
Binqose added that the victims “were headed to East London, perhaps to do some shopping.”
He urged motorists to take weather conditions seriously:
“If you do not need to be on the road, kindly stay at home.”
He noted that high-lying areas are experiencing heavy snowfall, while low-lying regions report intense cold and dangerous conditions.
In high areas such as Kokstad and Barkley East, snowfall is expected to continue until at least Saturday, 14 June 2025.
“Residents should prepare for prolonged road closures and freezing conditions,” Binqose warned.
What’s the latest with the Eastern Cape weather today?
The Eastern Cape is currently under a SAWS Orange Level 9 warning for disruptive rain. This is a high-severity alert issued due to a cut-off low-pressure system that is bringing persistent heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snow.
These conditions can trigger significant flooding in a short time, especially in low-lying areas.
Specific attention has been given to OR Tambo District Municipality, where flooding of homes, roads, and settlements is already occurring.
In response to mountain pass dangers, several key routes have been closed:
- Barkley Pass (R58) between Barkly East and Elliot
- Penhoek Pass (N6) from Komani to Aliwal North
An alternate route has been set up for traffic between Johannesburg and East London, passing through Aliwal North, Burgersdorp, Steynsburg, Hofmeyer, Cradock, and Komani—a total journey of about 379 km.
Authorities have urged commuters to postpone non-essential travel, use detours where provided, and drive with extreme caution.
Emergency services and municipal officials remain on high alert, ready to respond to accidents and weather-related incidents.
Meanwhile, Eskom has reported power outages affecting around 300,000 customers in the province.
Restoring electricity is hampered by flooded roads and snow-blocked access, and crews are working where it is safe to restore power.
