While thousands of motorists are still stuck on the N3 due to snowfall since Friday evening, several disaster teams are carrying out rescue and recovery operations.
The N3 Toll Route remains closed to incoming traffic between Tugela Plaza in KZN and Harrismith in the Free State. All lanes are blocked along a section of the route from the town of Van Reenen towards the Swinburne or Montrose intersection.
Incoming traffic is currently unable to drive over the Van Reenen Pass, as this would further strain the already complicated rescue and recovery operation.
READ ALSO | Snowstorm in KZN claims one life, rescue efforts continue
As of 09:20 on Sunday morning, vehicles from Montrose to Johannesburg were still blocked due to ice blocks.
A number of people around Shell Garage towards Montrose have been stuck for two nights now.
A disaster response team comprising SAPS, South African National Defence Force, SANRAL, N3TC, RTMC, Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (national and provincial) and several municipalities has been working to rescue people and clear the N3.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlement Sboniso Duma said two buses carrying learners were also stuck on the N3. Duma said 67 learners from Qwabi Primary School were travelling from Durban to Qwaqwa.
There are hundreds of trucks and some have overturned, making it difficult for graders to clear the snow, as rescue teams have to remove one truck at a time, including cars.
These too are vehicles, some of which have been abandoned by their drivers and which have to be pulled over one by one so that the graders can continue their work on this section of road.
READ ALSO | Heavy snow and rain cause power outages in KZN, level 8 warning issued
Duma said they were using advanced technology to monitor the road networks, including SANRAL camera control centres. Unfortunately, in some areas, mobile network is not available.
“We remain concerned that while thousands of motorists have been rescued, others remain stranded. We would like to assure those trapped and many others and their loved ones that the team has redoubled their efforts to clear the snow.
Our main focus is to enable disaster response teams to provide urgently needed assistance,
The roads that have been cleared and are now open are:
– N11 – Ladysmith to Newcastle
– N11 Amajuba Pass
– R33 – Freedom to Dundee but water damage on road near Cotswold
– R34 – Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid
– R33 – Vryheid to Paulpietersburg
– R34 – Vryheid to Melmoth
– R69 – Vryheid to Pongola
– N2 – Richardsbay to Piet Retief
The R34 from Newcastle to higher Memel remains closed.
The Witness
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