Final preparations ahead of expected light snow fall | The Witness

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the department is putting the final touches to its road safety plans ahead of the light snowfall expected in the province from Monday to Tuesday.

In a media statement, Duma urged South Africans to reschedule or postpone any travels they may have scheduled on those days.

Duma said that even light snowfall can be “extremely dangerous and fatal” as “it greases up the roads, which leads to road accidents”.

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We reiterate our position that prevention is better than cure,” Duma said.

Duma is expected to be on the ground later today to update members of the media and inspect the Satellite Base located at the top of N3 Van Reenen Pass and R617 Underberg.

“We wish to indicate that Road Traffic Inspectorate, in conjunction with N3 Toll Concession, Free State Provincial Traffic, and National Traffic Police, will ensure immediate assistance to stranded motorists,” Duma said.

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He also said that the team will ensure that traffic is diverted should the weather conditions deteriorate and that there will be strong visibility of Traffic officers and possible closures along the following routes :

●N3 Van Reeneen Pass to Tugela Plaza.
●Tugela Plaza to Bergville;
●N11 Bergville interchange to Volksrust;
●Estcourt to Mooi Toll Plaza;
●Mooi Toll Plaza to Howick;
●R617 Underberg to Swartberg;
●R617 Swartberg to Kokstad;
●R74 Muden Road;
●R33 Pomeroy to Dundee
●Montrose to Van Reenen Village.

Duma said that salt and brine “will be applied to the toads as part of reducing the adhesion of snow and ice to road surfaces”.

He added that drivers of motor graders  “has been sharpened to respond with speed and a sense of urgency to remove any snow before accumulating on the road.

Graders and a TLB are stationed in identified routes to ensure that our response is faster,” Duma said.

Duma said the department continues to be updated on the preparations ahead of the expected light snowfall and that it is grateful to the South African Weather Services and other government entities that play a role in aiding predicting and mitigating inclement weather conditions.