UNSEASONABLY late snowstorms battered South Africa’s coastal regions over the weekend, leaving two people dead and forcing the closure of major highways. The victims died from hypothermia after being stranded in their vehicles on the N3 highway, the primary route to the coastal city of Durban. Among the victims was a 39-year-old woman trapped in a minibus.
According to an AP report, the worst-hit provinces were KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, where officials also warned of potential flooding as snow begins to melt. Many farmers suffered losses as their crops remained buried under snow for two days.
Emergency services worked tirelessly to tow dozens of stranded trucks and vehicles while providing food and warm drinks to motorists who had been stuck for hours. Motorists were urged to drive cautiously in cleared areas.
In KwaZulu-Natal, schools were closed, and the provincial minister for cooperative governance, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, raised concerns over possible flooding along the Tugela River. He urged parents to keep children away from unguarded rivers and dams during the ongoing extreme weather.
