KwaZulu-Natal: Mop-up operations are underway in KwaZulu-Natal following severe snowfall, which caused disruptions to major routes and damaged infrastructure.
According to South African Government News Agency, the KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, provided an update on the snowfall response measures. Following the closure of the N2 highway around Kokstad and Port Shepstone on Tuesday, Duma commended the coordinated efforts of motor grader operators and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), who worked around the clock to ensure the free traffic flow. The department had set a target to remove the snow that blanketed the N2 (R56) along the route from Port Shepstone, Kokstad, and Eastern Cape. Duma praised the team from the Pietermaritzburg Region for achieving this in record time, preventing snow accumulation beyond 30 cm.
The province had activated its comprehensive snowfall response plan following alerts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS). Measures included coordination of possible road closures, observation of major routes, and deployment of more than 10 motor graders to ensure a swift response. The provincial government also interacted with SAWS to base its response on authentic information. Despite these efforts, several motorists, including trucks and luxury buses, became stuck along the N2 in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Duma urged the public to heed warnings from SAWS and delay trips if necessary to ensure safety.
The Department of Transport also updated the status of roads across various district municipalities. In eThekwini and Ilembe, all roads remain open, though heavy winds are present. In uMgungundlovu, Berg winds are being experienced, and in Umkhanyakude, windy conditions persist with a previously fallen tree on R22 cleared by a standby team. Zululand and King Cetshwayo districts reported no major issues, while N2 Ugu District has rain and strong winds, with fallen trees being attended to by Routine Road Management. Harry Gwala District’s N2 is closed due to snow, and in Amajuba and Uthukela, roads are clear but icy winds prevail. Meanwhile, Umzinyathi District also reports clear roads with icy winds.