Mthatha - Various roads will be closed in the Eastern Cape on Friday and at the weekend ahead of former president Nelson Mandela's funeral, the government said on Friday.
The R61 from Mthatha airport, and Sutherland road, York street, Mandela drive and the N2 to Qunu, would be closed, it said in a statement.
“Sections will be opened as soon as the convoy has passed through. This will also be the case on Saturday, from 1pm.”
On the following roads, diversions would be in place from 9pm on Friday:
Travelling to Mthatha from Kokstad/Durban:
* At the N2 Tsolo junction, traffic would be diverted to the R396 to Maclear;
* In Mthatha, at the Shell Ultra City, traffic would be diverted to the R6; and
Travelling from East London to Mthatha:
* Near Butterworth, on the N2 at Ndabakazi, traffic would be diverted to Tsomo onto the R61;
* At Idutywa, on the N2, traffic would be diverted to Engcobo onto the R61; and
* At Engcobo, on the R61 at Coghlan, a diversion would take place to a gravel road.
Mthatha would be accessible via the R61, but commuters were advised not to travel to Mthatha unless absolutely necessary.
Holidaymakers travelling to and from KwaZulu-Natal were also warned to avoid travelling through Mthatha, but to use alternative routes on the R396 and R61.
Sapa