KZN roads shut down due to heavy snowfall; motorists are urged to exercise caution. Image: The Witness.
(The Post News)– The N2 road between Kokstad and Umzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal has been closed due to heavy snowfall that’s causing significant disruptions to traffic in the region. Motorists and thrill-seekers, often referred to as “snow chasers”, are strongly advised to avoid the area entirely to ensure their safety.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, announced the road closure, stating that the Road Traffic Inspectorate’s efficient team has shut down the N2 due to snowfall around Kokstad and Port Shepstone. In addition to the N2, other roads have also been closed, including the route between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg and the R603 from Tacoma to Reit.
With trucks already getting stuck and causing massive congestion on the roads, Duma emphasized that the situation is serious and urged motorists to prioritise their safety. The department’s message is clear: prevention is better than cure, and motorists are advised to delay their trips to Kokstad and avoid the area altogether.
To manage the situation effectively, the Road Traffic Inspectorate team is working closely with traffic police from Kokstad and Ray Nkonyeni local municipalities. Their collaborative efforts are focused on redirecting motorists and clearing the snow from the roads to minimise disruptions and ensure public safety.
The department is taking proactive measures to respond to the situation, including coordinating possible road closures and monitoring major routes in consultation with the N3 Toll Concession. Their primary focus is on major affected routes, such as the N2, N3, and R617, to ensure that these critical transportation arteries remain as safe and accessible as possible. Motorists warned as snow forces N2 highway closure in KZN 2 hours ago eNCA.
To keep the roads clear, the department is deploying graders to affected areas. Drivers of these graders are undergoing training to respond quickly and with a sense of urgency to remove snow before it accumulates to more than 30 cm in depth on the roads. More than 10 graders will be stationed on identified routes to ensure a rapid and effective response.
The province is bracing itself for severe weather conditions, having received three Orange Level 6 warnings for disruptive snow, torrential rain, and gale-force winds in southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. In light of this, MEC Duma is scheduled to meet with local leaders, including the mayor of Ugu District and the mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, to discuss the situation and coordinate a unified response to the weather-related challenges.
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