The KwaZulu-Natal provincial Transport Department has closed multiple routes and urged motorists to stay home due to heavy snowfall [1].
These closures disrupt critical transit corridors in the southern Drakensberg, creating significant safety risks for travelers and stranded communities during a severe weather event.
Officials closed the R617 between Swartberg and Underberg [2]. The closure affects the area near Kingscote, situated between Underberg and Kokstad, where heavy snow has already left a truck stuck on the roadway [3].
To manage the flow of vehicles, authorities have diverted traffic to the R56 [1]. The snowfall is linked to a cut-off low-pressure system that has brought extreme conditions to the region [2].
Beyond the R617, the N3 Toll Concession is taking preventative measures at Van Reenens Pass. Crews are currently spreading brine on the N3 to prevent the formation of ice on the road surface [1].
Provincial transport officials said the measures are necessary to prevent further motorists from becoming trapped in the mountains. The combination of heavy rain and snow has made several mountain passes treacherous, prompting the urgent warnings issued to the public [1].
“The KwaZulu-Natal provincial Transport Department has closed multiple routes and urged motorists to stay home.”
The closure of the R617 and the necessity of brine treatment on the N3 highlight the vulnerability of South Africa's high-altitude transport infrastructure to sudden weather shifts. Because the N3 is a primary artery for freight between Gauteng and the coast, any ice-related delays at Van Reenens Pass can cause significant logistical bottlenecks for regional trade.
