The Department of Cooperative Governance (CoGTA) in KwaZulu Natal has sent relief to snow trapped people on the N3 at Van Reenan's pass in the midlands. This follows a casualty of a passenger that collapsed in a shopping centre at Merrivale after spending the night in a taxi stuck in the snow on the N3 travelling from Johannesburg towards KZN. The taxi had stopped for refreshments when the incident occurred.
STAY HOME
KZN CoGTA MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi urged people to stay home until the weather clears.
"We urge all our citizens of KwaZulu-Natal to stay at home and stay away from the roads as we can see the inclement weather, especially along the N3 along Bergville, Harrismith and also on the R74 and the R33 between Dundee and Vryheid. The provincial Disaster Management Centre is on the ground."
Buthelezi added, "We are already assisting stranded passengers with food but also with getting them off the road so that they can land at their places of safety. We really urge our citizens to stay at home."
DELAYED BY WEATHER
Minister of CoGta Velenkosi Hlabisa said it was not deliberate that people did not receive emergency rescue immediately.
"Remember that we are dealing with severe weather conditions, therefore it was difficult for helicopters to reach those stranded in order to at least deliver food and provide medical assistance to those who needed it urgently."
Following the deployment of more graders,MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma provided the following update:
- N11 - Ladysmith to Newcastle -Open
- N11 AMAJUBA PASS -open
- R33 - Vryheid to Dundee -open but water damping on the road at Cotswold
- R34 - Newcastle to Memel - Closed
- R34 - Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid -open
- R33 - Vryheid to Paulpietersburg -open
- R34 - Vryheid to Melmoth -open
- R69 - Vryheid to Pongola -open
- N2 - Richards Bay to Piet Retief -open
"Our hardworking and efficient team from Road Traffic Inspectorate will continue working flat out with disaster management teams and other law enforcement agencies," said Duma.
