Severe weather update: All of Nelson Mandela Bay’s nature reserves closed [VIDEOS]

Flooding in De Vlugt, George, on 7 May 2026.. Picture: Garden Route Municipality The severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape have led to the closure of all nature reserves in Nelson Mandela Bay and claimed the lives of ostriches that resided on farms in surrounding flooded areas. All municipal nature reserves across the metro will remain closed until further notice after the flooding and ongoing risks caused by the heavy rainfall.

During the closure, no hiking, cycling or any recreational activities will be permitted. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said the decision comes after extensive damage to hiking trails, fallen trees, unstable ground conditions and the flooding of bridges. Visitors are urged to comply with these restrictions and avoid entering any closed reserves until they are declared safe.

Since the level 8 warning of severe weather conditions was announced by the South African Weather Service (Saws) on Sunday, 3 May 2026, communities surrounding the Overberg, Garden Route, Central Karoo, and Cape Winelands bore the brunt of the storm. Officials from the Western Cape have discussed the latest on conditions, road closures and relief efforts on the ground after a social worker tragically passed away earlier this week after a tree collapsed on a car. Following severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape, Babalwa Lobishe, a councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), conducted an oversight visit at the Cuyler Bridge and Swartkops River in Kariega.

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Lobishe and technicians assessed the condition of bridges and monitored water levels to plan for possible evacuations and measures to prevent further impact. Meanwhile, MEC of Social Development in the Western Cape Jaco Londt expressed his condolences to the family and friends of a 37-year-old social worker from the Department of Social Development (DSD) who lost her life on Wednesday after a tree fell on her car.

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