KZN motorists urged to exercise extreme caution due to snowfall

KwaZulu-Natal's Cooperative Governance Minister Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi has urged drivers to be extremely careful while navigating the R56 and N2 highways near Kokstad, which lie along the southernmost stretch of the Drakensberg mountain range. He announced that continuous rain and snowfall have made these roads treacherous. Additionally, the R617 road has been shut down, and motorists traveling between Underberg and Kokstad have been rerouted onto the R56.

However, the N2 highway on the KwaZulu-Natal side of Kokstad is reported to be extremely slippery due to relentless rainfall and intermittent snow patches. On the opposite side of Kokstad, snow is falling heavily on the N2. According to Siboniso Mngadi, CoGTA's spokesperson, several major roads have been affected, with some closed and others being closely monitored by the Road Traffic Inspectorate teams.

In a shocking turn of events, two fatalities were reported early Monday morning following a vehicle that reportedly lost control due to slippery conditions in the Howick region near Pietermaritzburg. The province has been issued a Level 6 warning by disaster management teams, indicating severe weather conditions including heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and extreme cold.

While the snowfall is a rare occurrence in the Midlands region, residents of Underberg expressed delight at the unusual weather phenomenon. One local resident, Mohale Matlakala, recounted waking up to snow, having heard rumors earlier in the day.