Snowstorms in South Africa aren't a typical occurrence, considering the warmer climate in most parts of the country. However, it snows during the winter, i.e. from June to August, and only in regions at a higher altitude, such as the Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho, and certain regions of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The last time Johannesburg saw heavy snowfall was in August 2012, with it being the first time in over a decade. However, snow typically blankets South Africa’s biggest city once every five years or so. Heavier snow is more of a rare occurrence, happening once every 10 to 20 years.
This winter, parts of South Africa have been receiving unprecedented snowfall in recent days, causing major disruptions. Motorists were left stranded, roads were blocked, and lives were claimed. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) announced the news on Sunday, September 22.
An alert was issued regarding the perilous snowfalls blanketing several regions, including KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg, and parts of the Drakensberg mountains. The snowstorms first struck east on Friday, making their way across, and culminating in road closures and reports of hypothermia.
South Africa's Department of Transport left "deeply concerned" about the grave snowstorms
As per reports, several areas were left to tackle with up to 6 feet of snow. Many were left stranded in their vehicles throughout the night. One of the country's main highways, the N3, was also impacted. As per the latest reports, all roads in the area have been closed. Furthermore, authorities are calling on everyone to exercise caution and steer clear of the area.
According to officials, even detours were next to impossible. N3 Toll Concession operations manager Thania Dhoogra told the ENCA broadcaster that the Emergency services made efforts to reach those stranded, but the exact number of people remains unknown.
“Emergency services have been working flat out through the night. They have been attempting to reach as many roads users as they can."
South Africa's Department of Transport said in a statement:
"Heavy snowfall continues to blanket the N3 highway, particularly between Warden and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal, making travel extremely dangerous. The ministry is deeply concerned about the situation, especially as many travelers spent the night stranded at filling stations and along the N3, unable to move due to the road closures."
Arrive Alive, a road safety organization warned the public of the diminishing visibility along the N3. They also noted that more snowfalls can be expected, and the "formation of black ice as temperatures drop into the night" is imminent. They also took to X to showcase the extent of the situation.
The government of the KwaZulu-Natal province revealed in a statement that the stranded were being given blankets and meals, while trucks on the road had been parked on the side since Friday. As per Simon Zwane, the Road Traffic Management Corporation communications officer, "Buses traveling between provinces have been stuck at petrol stations for around seven hours," Deadline reported.
Woman loses her life to hypothermia as South Africa tackles intense snowstorms
Despite several ongoing efforts, a woman succumbed to hypothermia at the age of 39. While her identity remains unknown, Midlands EMS emergency services operations manager Roland Robertson revealed that she was stuck in a minibus taxi along with a few others. The incident occurred on Friday, near the town of Mooiplaas. The travelers had nothing on them to shield them from the imminent dangers.
The uMngeni Municipal Emergency Center responded to the situation, penning:
“We have done everything in our power to assist those stranded in these challenging conditions. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extend our condolences to the victim’s family."
However, South African Weather Services forecaster Luthando Masimini claimed the event was just an "extreme case" scenario.
Siboniso Duma, KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, has called on the public to stay indoors, noting that while he understands "that people need to travel," the "conditions on the roads are extremely hazardous."
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