The winter weather has disrupted travel across parts of the Eastern Cape, with three major mountain passes shut to traffic and motorists trapped in heavy snow. Barkly Pass on the R58, Penhoek Pass on the N6 and Boesmanshoek Pass have all been closed as emergency crews work to rescue stranded motorists. Eastern Cape transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose urged motorists to heed the closures, warning that they had been introduced for their safety. Officials are also monitoring other mountain passes as snowfall continues across the province’s high-lying areas. In the Western Cape, snowfall has also affected the Swartberg Pass near Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo.