By News 24
‘Longest night of my life’: Stranded motorists describe ‘freezingly cold’ wait in the snow
University of Pretoria student administrator Zizi Miya should have arrived home in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday night after driving from Gauteng at about 14:00.
Instead, because of the heavy snowfall and freezing weather, which resulted in the N3 highway being closed on Friday night, he is stuck inside his Audi A3 between Montrose and Van Reenen’s Pass.
Heavy snowfall in certain parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal caused the closure of the N3 highway in both directions between Harrismith in the Free State and the Tugela toll plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.
Large parts of KZN are without electricity following heavy snowfalls and rain
Several towns in northern KwaZulu-Natal and the Midlands, as well as the north coast, are without electricity following heavy rain and snowfalls.
Power utility Eskom said it was aware of outages across the province and that because of the large number of faults, “customers may experience delays in restoration, but all faults will be attended to as soon as possible”.
Areas without power include Newcastle, Dundee, Glencoe, Ladysmith, Estcourt, Pongola, Ulundi, Empangeni, Hluhluwe, Mtubatuba, and KwaDukuza,
“Technicians are on standby to attend to the faults once there is access. Access is hampered due to road closures. Eskom appeals for patience from our customers as restoration may take longer than usual,” said Eskom.
– Lisalee Solomons
Disaster centre set up at sports club in Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The mayor of the uMngeni Local Municipality, Chris Pappas, and non-profit organisation, Love Howick, have set up a disaster centre at the Howick Sports Club in Market Street where hot meals and drinks will be served.
The centre will also provide temporary shelter and blankets.
“Any person stuck in the Midlands area who can get to the centre will be assisted,” said Pappas.
Teams will also start assisting those who cannot get out of their vehicles on the N3 highway.
– Prega Govender
Snow warning upgraded to Level 8
The Level 6 snow warning for parts of KwaZulu-Natal has been upgraded to Level 8, according to the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi.
In a statement issued on Saturday, he said that the South African Weather Service had indicated that a Level 8 warning was in effect for Ladysmith, Underberg, Greater Kokstad, Impendle, Estcourt, Inkosi Langalibalele Sobabili, Giant’s Castle, Mooi River, Okhahlamba and uMngeni.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have advised road users travelling between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to delay their trips because of the severe weather conditions.
Heavy snow continues to blanket the N3 highway, especially between Warden in the Free State and the Tugela toll plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.
– Prega Govender
Stranded motorists receive soup, shelter and blankets
The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, said some motorists stranded on roads because of the heavy snowfall are being provided with soup, shelter and blankets.
He said local municipalities, in conjunction with other state organs, have mobilised graders to clear snow in affected regions, prioritising major routes to facilitate emergency access.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) convened a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) meeting on Saturday morning, where District Disaster Management Centres provided updates on relief efforts.
He said that the snowstorm blocked major routes in the province, including the R74 (Harrismith to Bergville), R74 Greytown/Colenso Road, N3 (Harrismith to Tugela Toll), R617 (Kokstad to Underberg), and N3 northbound, among others.
“Residents are urged to stay off the roads and avoid using alternative routes, as inclement weather conditions are expected to worsen.”
“Residents living near the N3 who can assist stranded motorists with supplies are encouraged to do so safely,” he said.
– Prega Govender
KZN transport MEC to help coordinate clearing of ‘accumulated snow’ on N3 Toll Route
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma is expected to make his way to the N3 Toll Route after scores of motorists were left stranded following heavy snowfalls that resulted in the freeway being closed in both directions between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State.
The department has deployed a team of officers from the Road Traffic Inspectorate to assist motorists.
“We are encouraged by the hard work and the partnership between private and public emergency rescue services, who are assisting stranded motorists on various routes affected by the snow,” Duma said.
He added that he was en route to the N3 to strengthen coordination between the intervention teams from the Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith regions.
KwaZulu-Natal police deployed to provide food and assistance to stranded road users
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have been deployed to provide help and food to road users who have been stranded on the N3 between Estcourt and Mooi River since Friday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said that among the stranded motorists are police officers, who, despite being in the same situation as the rest, are providing security services to fellow commuters.
“The management of police in KwaZulu-Natal have mobilised business partners who have already started preparing food and clothing for those who are stuck in the freezing snow.”
“Despite unfavourable flying conditions, police, working with other rescue and humanitarian entities, are braving the conditions to preserve life and deliver much-needed basic services,” he said.
– Lisalee Solomons
10h40 21/09 #N3TrafficAlert #TotalRoadClosure from #Estcourt to #Harrismith #MultidisciplinaryRescueOperations are underway #SevereWeather and #DangerousDrivingConditions continue from KZN to Gauteng #AvoidTravel #Tugela and #WilgePlazas #Closed. Please be #PatientAndCompliant pic.twitter.com/PeBgX38wW2
— N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) September 21, 2024
Tugela and Wilge toll plazas closed
More heavy snowfalls are now being reported on the N3 Toll Route along Van Reenen’s Pass.
N3 Toll Concession chief operating officer, Thania Dhoogra, confirmed that the route between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in Free State remains closed.
“Icy conditions, wet weather, and poor visibility are also being reported along other sections of the route, causing dangerous driving conditions from KwaZulu-Natal through the Free State, the southern parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng,” said Dhoogra.
She advised motorists to avoid all travel to the region…
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