Watch: Severe snowstorms and freezing conditions grip SA amid public holiday travel chaos

As the nation observes a public holiday today (August 10) at the close of the Women’s Day long weekend, this severe weather system is plunging multiple provinces into a deep freeze, triggering travel chaos, road closures and urgent safety warnings. Fresh snow has already been reported across high-lying parts of the Eastern Cape and the southern Drakensberg, while snowfall has also touched down on higher ground near Bloemfontein in the Free State. According toPretoria Rekord, Vox Weather noted snow falling near Bloemfontein this morning, as well as at Elliot and along the R56 near Matatiele.

Thick snow blanketed the southern Drakensberg, creating picturesque winter scenes around Lake Naverone as the landscape turned completely white. The Eastern Cape is facing some of the most severe conditions, prompting the South African Weather Service to issue an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive snow over parts of the province. The alert covers the Chris Hani District as well as the Senqu, Elundini and Matatiele municipalities, where heavy accumulations threaten dangerous travel conditions and potential community isolation.

Areas around Rhodes and Barkly East are experiencing some of the most striking accumulations as temperatures hover around freezing. Highlighting the immediate dangers on the road,SA Truckerreports that two trucks from the same transport company were involved in a side-swipe collision on the N10 in the Eastern Cape as heavy snowfall continues to create hazardous driving conditions across the province. Although the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are not yet known, footage from the scene shows the road covered in thick snow at the time of the incident, raising serious questions about whether slippery conditions played a role.

[paywall]

The collision serves as a timely warning for truck drivers navigating the province, where several high-altitude routes – including Barkly Pass, Penhoek Pass, Wapadsberg Pass and Lootsberg Pass – are particularly vulnerable to snow and temporary closures. Provincial authorities confirmed that the Penhoek Pass was temporarily closed between Aliwal North, Jamestown and Komani due to active snowfall. For heavy vehicle operators, snow-covered surfaces present extreme hazards as stopping and manoeuvring distances increase sharply.

Meanwhile,theZululand Observerreportsthat as snow falls across parts of KZN, resulting in several road closures, residents are further warned of damaging winds and waves expected to persist into tomorrow (August 11). KZN – R617 Route (Update):#SNOWROAD CLOSED between Underberg and Kokstadpic.twitter.com/nyz6Q35zhD The R617 road between Underberg and Kokstad was closed this morning after heavy snow blanketed the area, while snow was also reported across Nottingham Road, Clifton and the N2 Kokstad/Harding section. The N3 Toll Concession has mobilised extensive countermeasures. Chief operating officer Thania Dhoogra warned that icy conditions pose serious hazards throughout the day.

[/paywall]