By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Heavy rain, snow and freezing conditions continued to affect parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, with emergency teams monitoring roads and flood-prone communities.
The South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rain remained in force along the coast and adjacent interior between East London in the Eastern Cape and Cape Vidal in KZN.
The rain could cause flooding of roads, bridges and settlements and damage property and infrastructure.
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An Orange Level 5 warning for disruptive snow applied to the extreme north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape, while a Yellow Level 2 warning covered the north-eastern high ground of the province and the Drakensberg region of KZN.
The snowfall could disrupt traffic and essential services and temporarily cut off some communities.
KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate team reported at 10h00 that snowfall had been recorded at the Sani Pass border and Mount Fletcher, while Kokstad and Underberg were experiencing rain and mist.
Grader operators were on standby to remove snow before it accumulated to more than 30cm.
He added that Van Reenen Pass, between Harrismith and Ladysmith, was being closely monitored so that the road could be closed if conditions became unsafe.
“This will help to prevent motorists from being stuck on the N3,” he said.
The N3 Toll Concession warned that road users could encounter rain, mist, frost and freezing temperatures along high-lying sections of the route, including Van Reenen Pass, with black ice possible where temperatures fell below freezing.
Duma said the Human Settlements team was working with eThekwini Municipality and had made more than 170 rooms available at Montclair Lodge.
“We will accommodate families that may be left destitute because of floods,” he said.
“There is construction on the Quarry Heights Bridge, which was partially destroyed by floods in 2022. [Gabion] are being installed by eThekwini Municipality to prevent soil erosion and restore sidewalks.”
He added that engineers from the Department of Transport had installed culverts at several bridges to improve drainage and reduce water pooling on roads.
A Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive rain was also in place over south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and eastern KZN, except the extreme north-east.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) warned road users to exercise extreme caution as snowfall, icy conditions and freezing temperatures were forecast to affect motorists travelling through the Eastern Cape highlands, the Drakensberg region of KZN and routes towards Lesotho.
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“The anticipated weather conditions are expected to create hazardous driving conditions, particularly on mountain passes, high-altitude routes, and major transport corridors,” RTMC said.
“Motorists are advised to avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas and to remain alert for possible road closures, reduced visibility, and slippery road surfaces.”
The RTMC urged motorists to reduce speed and drive according to prevailing conditions, increase following distances, avoid sudden braking or sharp manoeuvres on icy roads, switch on headlights and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy.
It also advised motorists to carry warm clothing, blankets, drinking water, non-perishable food, a fully charged cellphone and a torch; check official weather and traffic updates before travelling; and follow instructions from law enforcement and emergency personnel.
The RTMC warned that motorists must “not drive around road closure barriers or attempt to cross roads covered by snow or ice”.
“Such actions place motorists, passengers, and emergency responders at unnecessary risk and may delay rescue and recovery operations.”
The Eastern Cape provincial government urged motorists not to cross flooded bridges or roads where water levels were rising.
“Residents in flood-prone informal or low-lying settlements should move belongings to higher ground where possible,” the provincial government said.
“It is also advised that residents keep local municipal emergency and disaster management contact numbers on hand, as response teams remain on high alert.”
Rest of SA
Elsewhere in South Africa, very cold and wet conditions, with possible light snowfall, were expected in the southern Free State and along the Lesotho border. Light snow was also possible in the extreme south-eastern Northern Cape.
Gauteng was expected to be partly cloudy and cool to cold, with isolated showers and rain. Drizzle was forecast along the Mpumalanga escarpment, with isolated showers in parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
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The North West was expected to be partly cloudy and cool, with isolated showers and thundershowers in the extreme south-east.
The Free State was forecast to be cold to cool, with scattered showers and thundershowers along the Lesotho border and possible light snow along the border and in the extreme south-west.
The Northern Cape was expected to be cold to cool and very cold in the south, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in the south-east and possible light snow in the extreme south-east.
The Western Cape was expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy in the east and otherwise fine and cool to warm, with cold conditions in parts of the Central Karoo.
