KwaZulu-Natal disaster management teams on alert for snowfall

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka has placed the province’s disaster management teams on alert in anticipation of snowfall.

Hlomuka urged residents across KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday to exercise extreme caution as weather conditions are expected to deteriorate due to an incoming cold front. 

The weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service indicates that the province faces a risk of snowfall and hail in areas around the Drakensberg mountains starting on Thursday evening and continuing on Friday.   

Hlomuka warned residents to exercise caution while they keep warm. He  specifically appealed to residents who use generators and braziers to follow all safety precautions to avoid accidents.

“We are appealing to residents to ensure that generators are placed outside whenever they are in use and we are also calling on them to ensure that if they are using braziers, they utilise them in a safe manner and in a well ventilated area,” said Hlomuka.

The MEC has placed disaster management teams on high alert in districts surrounding the Drakensberg mountains as the risk of snowfall could lead to road closures. Hlomuka has urged residents to check weather forecasts prior to embarking on any trip.

Disaster management teams will be monitoring routes in KwaZulu-Natal that are prone to incidents.

The SA Weather Service and the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) issued a weather warning alert advising motorists to delay trips because strong winds and snowfall are expected along some stretches of the N3 Toll route.

The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) said in a statement that it was  making every attempt to ensure general safety of all its road users along the N3 Toll Route. It advised road users to stay informed of conditions for travelling on the route; to avoid night time travel when temperatures may suddenly drop and visibility is generally very poor; and to delay their trips if the inclement weather conditions become too treacherous.