/ 20 September 2008

Road closures in KwaZulu-Natal after snowfalls

Roads have been closed in the Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape after heavy snowfalls, transport officials said on Saturday.

Nonkululeko Mbatha, spokesperson for the Kwazulu-Natal transport department, said there was absolutely no access to the Kokstad area.

”Roads are completely closed in Kokstad and people are advised not to go there, especially those who go there to see the snow.

”If they go there they will be stuck for several hours.”

The R612, Ixopo Road, portions of Bulwer Road, the road from Underberg leading to Bulwer were all closed.

In the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, snow had fallen in Mooiriver and Hidcote.

”A section of the N3 freeway is covered by snow and is being removed by graders. No accidents have been reported thus far but there has been huge traffic congestion.”

Several trucks had jacknifed as a result of the snowfall.

”The whole province’s roads are completely wet and we are urging motorists to be extra careful,” said Mbatha.

Arrive Alive spokesperson Tsepo Machaea told South African Broadcasting Corporation news that the R56 highway between Kokstad and Matatiele and the N2 highway between Kokstad and Mt Ayliff through Brooks Nek were closed to traffic.

Roads between Kokstad and Port Shepstone were also blocked.

He said motorists travelling from Mthatha to the south coast should use the R91 via Port St Johns.

On Saturday, Beeld reported that it had snowed lightly on Table Mountain in Cape Town early on Friday morning. – Sapa