Pretoria – Officials are this afternoon performing a full rehearsal of the procession that will take place on Saturday as the body of the late former President Nelson Mandela makes its way home.
Motorists are warned that roads are closed from the airport to the R6, Sutherland Road, York Street, Mandela Drive and N2 route to Qunu is closed.
Sections of the route will be reopened as soon as the convoy has passed through, said government in a statement.
The route will also be closed from 1pm on Saturday.
Madiba’s body will be flown from Waterkloof Air Force Base on Saturday to Mthatha Airport, ahead of the official funeral on Sunday.
From 9pm this evening, the following road closures will be in effect:
Travelling to Mthatha from Kokstad/Durban:
- At the N2 Tsolo Junction traffic will be diverted to the R396 to Maclear
- In Mthatha at the Shell Ultra City traffic will also be diverted to the R61
Travelling from East London to Mthatha:
- Near Butterworth on the N2 at Ndabakazi, traffic to be diverted to Tsomo on to the R61
- At Idutywa on the N2, traffic will be diverted to Engcobo on to the R61
- At Engcobo, on the R61 at Coghlan, a diversion will take place to a gravel road
Government said Mthatha would still be accessible via the R61, but advised commuters not to travel to Mthatha unless absolutely necessary as there would be traffic delays.
Holidaymakers travelling to and from KwaZulu-Natal should avoid travelling through Mthatha and will have to use alternative routes on R396 and R61.
“We ask the public to be patient and understanding of the special circumstances,” said government. – SAnews.gov.za
