South Africans striving to clear roads after heavy snowfall

Residents in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces of South Africa are battling to clear roads following snowfall Saturday, Xinhua reported citing South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape provinces all experienced snowfall, with heavy snowfall hitting the Kwazulu-Natal Province and parts of the Free State Province Saturday, blocking the roads, damaging the fields, and killing some livestock.

"The N3 Toll Route remains closed for incoming traffic between Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State. All lanes are obstructed along a section of the route. Reports are being received of a 30 km backlog of traffic attempting to make their way from Harrismith towards Van Reenen," said the KwaZulu-Natal department in a statement.

Communication services in the area have been affected with limited or no cellphone reception. Some drivers abandoned their cars on the roads and had to be moved out of the way to allow the graders to work along this section of the roadway, according to the KwaZulu-Natal department.

Michael Masiapato, the commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), said some ports of entry have become risky because of persistent snow.

"Given the situation, the BMA and stakeholders operating at the port have decided 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," said Masiapato in a statement.

Siboniso Duma, the KwaZulu-Natal province member of the executive council for transport and human settlement, said they had rescued 67 learners from Qwabi Primary School who were traveling from Durban to Qwaqwa and got stuck because of the snow, urging people to be cautious on the roads.

Various government departments including the police and soldiers have been mobilized to help clear the roads.