Avoid all travel: Motorists urged to delay holiday plans as black ice ...

Following heavy snowfalls authorities access routes into KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng have become dangerous and were closed down by authorities.

By Saturday morning, heavy snowfall was impacting the N3 Toll Route along Van Reenen Pass, leading to a total road closure between Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State. Icy conditions, wet weather, and poor visibility were causing dangerous driving conditions not only on the N3 but also affecting travel from KwaZulu-Natal through the Free State and into the southern parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng. 

“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. Please avoid all travel,” was the message that went out from traffic authorities early on Saturday morning. 

“Disaster management teams were also working around the clock to reach crash scenes, emergency incidents, and stranded road users,” the traffic alert continued.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a  level 6 warning for disruptive snowfall for the extreme south-western parts of KwaZulu-Natal today, with concerns about the potential loss of livestock and crops. 

Additionally, a level 2 alert has been issued for the western region of the province. There is also a warning in place for disruptive rainfall, which could lead to localized flooding in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Amukelani Mkhari from SAWS said the adverse weather conditions would continue today.

“We are still expecting some isolated to scattered showers and rainfall, mostly over the eastern half of the country, and the freezing levels have dropped quite significantly meaning we are still expecting snowfall over the high lying areas of KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Eastern Cape,” she said.

Mkhari said the intense cold front, which has already moved out of the country, was the cause for the adverse conditions.

“Behind the cold front, we had a surface high pressure with a longer fetch. Basically it was taking all the cold maritime air from the southern part and bringing all that cold air into our country. We also had a cut off flow which developed over the western parts of the country, which also moved over to the eastern parts, which also contributes in decreasing the freezing levels over the eastern parts of the country,” she said. 

She said the weather should start clearing by late Saturday afternoon.

“Today, we will be expecting quite very, very low, very cold temperatures,” she said but added that warmer weather was expected from tomorrow. 

Dangerous conditions including black ice 

The bad weather coincided with many people trying to get to long weekend destinations like KwaZulu-Natal increasing traffic on the roads.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), issued an advisory that  its N3 Toll Concession has closed the N3 at the Van Reenen’s Pass because of dangerous conditions including black ice.

“The snowfall and sudden drop in temperature are causing black ice to form, making the roads at Van Reenens slippery, and there have been reports of trucks losing traction, especially on the uphill sections.KwaZulu-Natal residents warned of severe weather conditions. People who intend travelling are advised to delay or cancel their travel plans”. 

Sanral also issued a traffic alert has been issued warning motorists to avoid Harrismith in the Free State and Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Snowfalls and “icy conditions” continue to disrupt traffic along the N3 Toll Route and most other regional roads.  Additionally, routes such as the N2 Ingeli and N3 Mooi River were under close observation to monitor driving conditions.

“Numerous reports are being received of road users still trying to make their way via alternative routes despite passage on most roads now being either unpassable or highly treacherous. Please adhere to appeals to suspend travel to the affected regions,” the traffic alert said.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs said disaster Management teams are actively monitoring conditions across the province as heavy snowfall and rain continue to affect various areas

“Residents planning to travel on these roads are strongly advised to postpone their journeys due to the current hazardous conditions. For those already on the road, please exercise extreme caution and avoid speeding, as roads have become dangerously slippery. Efforts are being made by disaster management teams to reach stranded motorists and provide necessary assistance,” a statement from the department continued.

The KwaZulu-Natal Disaster Management Centre said it was coordinating multi-sectoral interventions to provide relief and facilitate the clearing of roads where necessary. The adverse weather conditions are expected to persist through Saturday.

Heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions 

Arrive Alive issued a notice that several sections of the N3 around the Midlands have been closed due to heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions.

“The weather is extremely severe, and it is currently unsafe to travel. Additionally, snow has also been reported in Ladysmith, Dundee, and surrounding areas, where road conditions are similarly dangerous. Avoid all travel today. For your safety, please remain at home. Despite the excitement of the snowfall, traveling is strongly discouraged,” their notice read.

“Rescue workers are actively responding to emergencies, including efforts to assist those stranded overnight, and they are working tirelessly to locate and assist a cardiac emergency patient and children stranded in a bus. Please do not add to their burden by putting yourself at risk.

“For your safety, and that of the rescue teams, we urge you to cancel any travel arrangements. The road conditions are extremely dangerous, and we ask everyone to prioritize safety above all else,” the Arrive Alive notice continued.

Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa ) has dispatched a team of paramedics and reaction officers in 4×4 rescue vehicles to assist motorists stranded on the N3 in Harrismith in the Free State.

The Rusa operations centre said that since 04:00 it has been inundated with calls from stranded motorists requesting assistance.

“The callers reported that the elderly and children were without water, food and medication for approximately 12 hours in freezing temperatures,” said Rusa. 

The calls were received from Van Reenen’s Pass and Harrismith, about 340km from the Rusa headquarters. Due to the heavy snowfall, fog, rain an poor visibility along the route, its R44 helicopter could not fly out and has been grounded.

The Road Freight Association (RFA) has received numerous calls from the public about the situation on the roads due to the heavy snowfall.

Many of the major routes in KwaZulu Natal, especially the N3 and N11, have already been closed off.

RFA chief executive officer Gavin Kelly said it was impossible to move through sections of the routes that have seen up to two metres of snowfall.

“Whilst the RFA focuses on commercial road freight, it is concerned about the general public either being unaware of the conditions or presuming that it is easy to travel through the snow. It is not.

“This can be a life-threatening event if no preparation has been done, and there is no emergency protocol in place,” Kelly said.

Ports of entry also closed

On Saturday morning, the country also closed several ports of entry due to roads affected by snow, Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, said. 

“Given the situation, the BMA and stakeholders operating at the port, have taken a decision to close Sani Pass, Boesmansnek and Monontsha ports of entry for operations today until further notice. This precaution is taken to ensure the safety of travelers, tourists and officials, as the current conditions pose a significant danger. Travellers are advised that Ficksburg port, Caledonspoort, Makhaleng as well as Maseru Ports of entry can be used as alternatives to enter Lesotho,” the BMA statement continued. 

These are some safety tips for motorists stuck on the roads:

Stay in your vehicle: If you are stranded, it is safer to stay inside your vehicle and wait for help. Do not leave the vehicle to search for assistance, unless help is visible within 100 metres.Signal for help: Display a brightly coloured cloth (preferably red) on your radio antenna or hang it out of the window to signal for help.Raise the hood after the snow stops falling.Run the engine sparingly: Run the engine for about 10 minutes every hour to stay warm. Ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.Conserve fuel: Use your vehicle’s heater sparingly to conserve fuel. Keep a window slightly open to allow fresh air in.Stay visible: Keep the dim light on at night when running the engine. This uses a small amount of electricity and helps rescuers see you.Stay warm: Use blankets, extra clothing, or anything available to stay warm. Move your arms and legs occasionally to maintain circulation.Stay hydrated: Drink fluids to avoid dehydration, but avoid alcohol as it lowers body temperature. DM

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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