The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has temporarily closed the R533 between Graskop and Bushbuckridge to prevent potential loss of life and restore the road to a safe condition.
In a statement on Monday, December 22, 2025, the department said the closure followed an on-site assessment conducted by the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Thulasizwe Thomo.
Thomo was joined by the Executive Mayor of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Friddah Nkadimeng, and the department’s technical team during the inspection.
“The closure is a necessary safety intervention aimed at protecting road users and enabling the department to address the situation urgently and without disturbance,” Thomo said.
He emphasised that the safety of road users remains the department’s highest priority.
“Following a thorough assessment of the R533, we took a decisive decision to close the road to prevent potential loss of life and allow our technical teams to work quickly and effectively to restore it to a safe condition,” he added.
Motorists travelling to and from Bushbuckridge are advised to use the alternative route from Graskop via Sabie to Hazyview until further notice.
“The department will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep the public informed,” Thomo said. Road users will be notified once the road is declared safe and reopened for traffic.
The department apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to motorists to exercise patience and cooperation.
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