Snowfall forces road closures in KZN as truck gets stuck on R617

A truck stands stranded on the snow-covered R617 near Kokstad as KwaZulu-Natal authorities implement road closures and emergency response measures amid widespread snowfall. Heavy snowfall has forced the closure of several roads in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with authorities urging motorists to postpone travel after a truck became stranded on the R617 near Kokstad. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the province’s Snowfall Response Plan had been activated as snow fell in Kokstad, Underberg, Matatiele and Clifton near Nottingham Road on Monday.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) confirmed that the R617 had been closed and that traffic had been diverted to the R56 to prevent motorists from becoming trapped in dangerous conditions. Duma said authorities had moved swiftly to restrict access to affected routes. “To ensure that motorists and snow chasers are not trapped in areas where there is snowfall, the Road Traffic Inspectorate is already implementing the Snowfall Response Plan,” he said.

He added that officials had already recorded a vehicle incident on one of the affected routes. “RTI has reported that one truck is stuck on R617, Kingscote,” said Duma. The department warned motorists against unnecessary travel as weather conditions continue to deteriorate across parts of the province.

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“We are requesting motorists to delay their trips and members of the public to remain indoors, as prevention is better than cure,” Duma said. Road maintenance teams and heavy machinery operators have been deployed to keep key routes accessible and prevent significant snow accumulation. “As we have stated in the past, our Snowfall Response Plan involves removing snow before it could accumulate to more than 30cm in depth. In this regard, our hard-working operators of graders have been activated,” he said.

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