Water Protest Spreads: Multiple Roads Closed in Fort Beaufort (KwaMaqoma)!

Water Protest Shuts Multiple Roads in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality

Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape – Residents and motorists are facing major disruptions across the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality as multiple roads have been closed due to ongoing service delivery protests related to persistent water shortages.

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport confirmed that the following routes are affected:

• R63 between KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort) and Dikeni (Alice)

• R63 between KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort) and Adelaide (Adelaide)

• R67 between KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort) and Komani (Queenstown)

The initial closure on the R63 between Dikeni (Alice) and KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort) was reported yesterday, Wednesday, following residents’ demonstrations over ongoing water supply issues.

Today, the closures remain in place and have expanded to additional routes, reflecting the growing frustration of communities affected by water outages.

Motorists are urged to avoid these routes until further notice, make use of alternative roads where possible, and exercise extreme caution when travelling near the affected areas.

Local law enforcement officers are monitoring the situation to ensure safety and manage traffic flow, but delays are expected as the protests continue.

Residents of KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort), Dikeni (Alice), Adelaide, and Komani (Queenstown) have voiced their frustration over the persistent water shortages that have affected households, schools, and local businesses. Community members say the protests are a last resort to demand urgent interventions from municipal authorities.

Municipal officials have assured the public that updates will be communicated as soon as more information becomes available. The authorities are appealing to residents to remain calm and for motorists to plan alternative routes to avoid the affected roads.

The ongoing closures highlight the serious service delivery challenges facing Raymond Mhlaba Municipality and the urgent need for the water crisis to be addressed. Residents and commuters are encouraged to stay updated through official channels and local media.