Roads closed as snow covers KZN and Eastern Cape (PICS and VIDEOS)

Heavy snow in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape has led to roads being closed on Monday. The KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements announced the closure of some roads in Kokstad, Kingscot and Underberg. It said this has been done to ensure that motorists are not trapped in areas where there is snowfall.

KZN –#SNOWnow falling in the Midlands area(Nottingham Road)pic.twitter.com/1H4HIVo1Dn The department’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) said a truck is stuck on the R617. This road has also been closed, with traffic being redirected to R56. “We are requesting motorists to delay their trips and members of the public to remain indoors, as prevention is better than cure,” said MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma.

He said teams have been deployed to remove snow from the roads before it accumulates to more than 30cm in depth. The Eastern Cape Department of Transport said heavy snowfall has resulted in mountain passes being closed. It said the Nicomalan Pass has not been closed yet.

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“Road users are advised to avoid the affected roads, reschedule travel plans, or use alternative routes where possible,” it said. The Chris Hani District Municipality said overnight snow in Graaff-Reinet has led to the Lootsberg pass and Wapadsberg pass being closed. This means that the N9/6 towards Middelburg and R61/2 near Nxuba cannot be used, it said. “Alternative routes for road users travelling from the Western Cape side towards Middelburg need to travel on the R75/4 turn into R63/8 towards Pearston, then Somerset East and Cookhouse back onto the N10 towards Nxuba.”

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