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KZN focuses on clearing roads following severe snowstorms

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By Johnathan Paoli

All motorists stranded on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads following heavy snowfalls over the weekend have been rescued, according to the provincial government.

The province will now shift its focus to mopping-up operations, including clearing roads.

“The provincial government has mobilised a comprehensive response team, including emergency rescue services from both the public and private sectors. The collaboration has been instrumental in providing support to stranded motorists along various routes,” KwaZulu-Natal acting premier Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa told reporters on Sunday.

While some media outlets reported that two people have died, the province has confirmed one death.

Several roads remain closed due to hundreds of cars and trucks still stuck on the roads.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi told reporters that additional graders had been deployed to assist in clearing the snow and ice.

“All cars have been evacuated, but there is still a problem of trucks abandoned on the roads that still need to be cleared,” he said.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate and provincial emergency services have been deployed to assist motorists navigating treacherous conditions.

The department’s acting HOD, Joey Krishnan, said some roads had not been cleared because the priority was first to rescue stranded motorists. Also, some drivers had not returned to their cars yet, which caused further delays.

Eskom in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed that since Friday night, several areas including Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle, Underberg and Empangeni, are still without electricity.

Eskom’s Khanyisa Sihlobo said that while the power utility was dealing with a number of faults, some areas remained inaccessible.

“It is because some of the roads are still closed, and in some areas, our lines are inaccessible. Our teams need to pass through some mountains and rivers. Unfortunately, we are unable to access those areas at this point in time,” Sihlobo said.

Meanwhile, the Border Management Authority has resumed operations at most of the ports of entry following them being closed due to the weather, according to Nomonde Mnukwa, who is the acting spokesperson for national government.

“… operations have now resumed at all ports of entry that were affected by the snowfall with the exception of the Sani Pass due to the melting snow which is causing the roads to be slippery. Travellers seeking to enter Lesotho are advised to use the Ficksburg Port, Caledonspoort, Makhaleng, Boesmansnek, Monontsha and Maseru as alternative ports of entry,” Mnukwa said in a statement.

Madlopha-Mthethwa is expected to lead a delegation to assess disaster relief centres on Monday.

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