The South African Weather Service has issued a Level 8 warning for ongoing adverse weather, as snowfall continues to cover the N3 highway, especially between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal, leaving many motorists stranded for hours.
The N3 highway, which connects Johannesburg and Durban, was severely impacted, with multiple sections closed and even detours becoming impassable, according to officials.
Emergency services were working to assist those trapped in their vehicles, but the extent of the situation and the condition of those affected remained unclear, said N3 Toll Concession operations manager Thania Dhoogra.
“Emergency services have been working tirelessly overnight to reach as many road users as possible,” Dhoogra told ENCA.
The KwaZulu-Natal Disaster Management Centre held a meeting on Saturday morning to coordinate relief efforts for those trapped, including soup kitchens, shelters, and blankets.
KwaZulu-Natal’s cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, stated that local municipalities and other state agencies have deployed graders to clear snow on major routes to ensure emergency access.
Trucks have been parked on the roadside since Friday, and buses traveling between provinces have been stuck at petrol stations for about seven hours, reported Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane.
Motorist Muhammad Goolam shared with Newzroom Afrika that he spent the night in his car with his children outside Harrismith, around 270 kilometers southeast of Johannesburg. “After over 13 hours, we’ve run out of food supplies and can’t see a way to drive out without help from emergency personnel,” he said.
Some areas experienced snowfall of up to two meters, according to the Arrive Alive road safety campaign. South Africa’s Border Management Authority closed three border posts with Lesotho due to dangerous conditions.
More snow is expected, with orange warnings issued for several regions, according to South African Weather Services forecaster Luthando Masimini, who called it “an extreme case.
“In contrast, the rare snowfall excited some, like Justin Nadasem Baker, who drove three hours from Johannesburg with his family to see the snow in Warden, about 50 kilometers from Harrismith.