A stretch of the M3 northbound in Cape Town has turned into a skid risk after an oil spill left the surface slick on Monday afternoon. The affected section runs near Wynberg Park and the well-known Wynberg Hill landmark, a route many visitors and locals use when driving between the southern suburbs and the city centre.
Drivers heading towards the city are being told to ease off the accelerator and, crucially, avoid braking hard — sudden braking on an oily surface is exactly what sends cars into a skid. The warning matters most for anyone approaching at higher speed or unfamiliar with the road, which includes plenty of hire-car travellers and ride-hailing passengers on this corridor.
As of the latest update, authorities had not confirmed what caused the spill, whether any lane closures would follow, or how long clean-up would take. It's a developing story, so if you're driving that way it's worth checking traffic updates before setting off and building in a little extra time.
For travellers this is a small but practical heads-up. The M3 is one of Cape Town's main arteries, linking the airport-side highways with suburbs like Wynberg, Claremont and Rondebosch, and it's a road most visitors will use at some point — whether heading to the Constantia winelands, Kirstenbosch or the False Bay coast. A slippery patch on a downhill approach like Wynberg Hill is not somewhere you want to be caught out at speed, especially in a rental you've just picked up.
The broader takeaway: Cape Town's roads can throw up surprises — everything from spilled loads to sudden winter downpours that make painted lines treacherous. Slow down, leave following distance, and if your car starts to slide, steer gently rather than grabbing the brakes. Local traffic and news channels tend to post updates quickly, so a quick check before you drive the M3 is the easiest way to avoid the mess. Further details on closures will follow once confirmed.
