Overview
- Sections of the N2 between Nelson Mandela Bay and Jeffreys Bay remain shut with traffic diverted to Old Cape Road because dense smoke makes travel unsafe.
- Officials say shifting winds repeatedly reignite fire lines and rapidly change direction, undermining progress once thought secure.
- Municipal fire services report operational readiness under strain, with about six farmer-led teams from the Van Stadens area and Working on Fire crews deployed.
- Local estimates indicate at least 100 hectares of grazing and agricultural land burned, with several close calls near homes but no reported house losses.
- Causes remain under investigation, with weather as the primary driver and a warning that discarded cigarette butts from motorists may have sparked some flare-ups.