Work to clear heavy snow in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State has started on the N3 toll route along the Van Reenen Pass. (@SANRAL_za/X, formerly Twitter)
- Several roads have reopened to traffic after being closed due to heavy snowfall.
- Authorities in KZN have deployed more excavators to assist in rescue operations.
- The Sani Pass, Boesmansnek and Monontsha entrance gates are also closed.
Most roads that were closed due to heavy snowfall were reopened to traffic on Sunday morning.
On Friday evening, traffic on the N3 toll route and most other regional roads began to be disrupted by snowfall, leaving dozens of motorists stuck on the road for more than 12 hours.
On Saturday morning, work began on the N3 toll road along the Van Reenen Pass, which was completely closed between Estcourt and Harrismith, to clear heavy snow in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.
Due to heavy snow, icy conditions and poor visibility, traffic authorities are warning motorists to avoid travelling to KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and surrounding regions as dangerous conditions persist.
Siboniso Duma, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Settlements, said his department has deployed more graders to assist with the rescue operations.
“From 09:20 there will be no more access for cars from Montrose to Johannesburg. There are blocks of ice everywhere. We advise motorists not to use the N3 to Durban,” Duma said on Sunday.
He added that most motorists are stuck at the Shell Garage heading towards Montrose, with all cars and trucks covered in snow.
“There are hundreds of trucks and some have overturned, making it difficult for the graders to remove the snow as rescue teams have to remove one truck at a time, including cars,” Duma said.
The following roads will be open again on Sunday:
- N11 – Ladysmith to Newcastle
- N11 – Amajuba Pass
- R33 – Freedom to Dundee – Open but waterlogging on the road at Cotswold
- R34 – Newcastle to Memel (closed higher up)
- R34 – Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid
- R33 – Vryheid to Paulpietersburg
- R34 – Freedom to Melmoth
- R69 – Freedom to Pongola
- N2 – Richards Bay to Piet Retief
He added that teams are using advanced technology to monitor the road network, including through SANRAL camera control centres.
“Unfortunately, mobile network is not available in some areas. We remain concerned that while thousands of motorists have been rescued, others are still stranded,” he added.
The MEC said they also intervened after receiving emergency reports of two buses carrying students that were stuck.
“We assisted 67 students from Qwabi Primary School who were travelling from Durban to QwaQwa. They were stuck. We want to assure those who are stuck and many others and their loved ones that the team has redoubled their efforts to clear the snow.”
WATCH | ‘Very dangerous’: Heavy snow leaves motorists stranded all night in KZN, Free State
Duma said their main goal now is to enable disaster response teams to provide much-needed aid as quickly as possible.
According to the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance, the N3 Toll Route remains closed to incoming traffic between Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State. All lanes are blocked from the town of Van Reenen towards the Swinburne/Montrose intersection.
Meanwhile, the Border Management Authority (BMA) has decided to close the Sani Pass, Boesmansnek and Monontsha border crossings for all operations on Saturday.
According to BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, this precautionary measure was taken to ensure the safety of travellers, tourists and officials as the heavy snowfall posed a significant hazard.
“Travellers are advised that the ports of Ficksburg, Caledonspoort, Makhaleng and Maseru can be used as alternative entry points into Lesotho,” Masiapato added.
[UPDATE]The Commissioner of the @TheBMA_SA Dr. Michael Masiapato has informed travelers that conditions leading to some entry points have become unsafe due to the ongoing snowfall. In view of the situation, the BMA and stakeholders active in… photo.twitter.com/RLkjpnjEg7
— The Border Management Authority SA (@TheBMA_SA) September 21, 2024
According to Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, most routes are open.
“Only between Van Reenen and Montrose the last stretch needs to be cleared. Most other areas have been opened and the backlog has been cleared,” Sooliman said.
He added that the roads from Howick to Underberg and from Harrismith to Bergville remain closed.
Snow on the Penhoek Pass in the Eastern Cape on Friday. (Eastern Cape Transport Department / Supplied)
Delivered
Sooliman added that the Gift of the Givers team prepared and distributed hot meals, blankets, energy bars, fruit, energy drinks and water.
“[In] in some places where the snow was too deep, we had to throw stuff across the road to reach people [the] northbound lane. We tried to cover as much ground as possible on foot.”
Cebelihle Mthethwa
www.news24.com
