BestDrive Paarden Eiland · Week 43
Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October 2026 · Driving conditions, closures and quick checks for drivers in Paarden Eiland, Maitland & Salt River · 5 min read
Fog at dawn on Tuesday, then a cold front with rain from Wednesday into Thursday morning and north-westerly gusts on Wednesday. Dry and warmer from Friday, up to 25 °C. No SAWS warnings for Cape Town.
Wednesday is the day to plan around: the first proper rain in a while, up to 12 mm, on roads full of roadworks around both branches, with gusts strong enough to push a bakkie load around. Check your wipers and lights before Tuesday's fog, strap anything on the roof, and note that the November fuel increase now lands on election day.
Shaded columns are night-time (19:00–06:00). Tap a bar for details.
Heads-up · Tue 05:00–08:00 · patchy fog, visibility down to about 200 m around 06:00, clearing by 08:00
Patchy fog for Tuesday's early commute
These are quick checks at home or on the forecourt, not an inspection; a workshop check and your service schedule still apply.
Can’t tick one off? Pop in on Saturday (08:00 - 12:00) and we’ll check it while you wait.
ProposedEffective: Not yet announced
The draft that would make car and motorbike cards valid for ten years, published for comment in the Government Gazette on 17 August, is still being consulted on; truck and bus codes would stay at five years. Until it is final, the department says to keep renewing on the five-year cycle, so check the date on your card.
ProposedEffective: Not yet announced
The department still plans to remove driving licences, learner’s licences and traffic register certificates from the list of accepted identification, with 30 days for comment once the draft is gazetted; it hasn't been yet. Nothing changes for now, but carry your ID or passport where you have to prove who you are.
Two weeks into the window, November still points to a big increase, though smaller than the first week's data suggested: about R2.06 a litre on petrol 95, R2.07 on 93 and R1.38 on diesel 50ppm. The change lands on Wed 4 November, election day. With two weeks of data still to come the numbers will move, but if your tank is low on the 3rd, fill up then.
| From Wed 4 Nov (expected) | Per litre |
|---|---|
| Petrol 95 | +R2.06+206c |
| Petrol 93 | +R2.07+207c |
| Diesel 50ppm | +R1.38+138c |
Expected: Central Energy Fund daily data, average 2–15 October. The official adjustment is due before Wed 4 Nov; diesel is the wholesale change.
Wheels out of alignment drag and burn extra fuel. Book an alignment check
Wednesday's rain is the first in a while, and wet roads show up brakes that pull or fade. We test your brakes free, with a detailed check and advice, and if the work is done with us you get 20% off the labour. Come in on Saturday morning: Montague Gardens 08:00–13:00, Paarden Eiland 08:00–12:00.
44 Marine Drive · Saturday 08:00 - 12:00
Book a brake testLearn
Do worn shocks affect braking?
Yes. Shocks keep your tyres pressed onto the road. When they’re worn, the tyres skip over bumps and you can take noticeably longer to stop.
Read the answer