CABINET DECISION

The cabinet has convened and concluded that immediate interventions must be focused on the routes most affected by the heavy snowfall. This decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of motorists and facilitating the swift restoration of normal travel conditions in these areas. All relevant departments and emergency services have been instructed to prioritize clearing affected routes and assisting stranded road users.

Recent Snow In KZN
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government is calling on all citizens to exercise caution in light of the heavy snowfall and rain currently affecting the province. As part of the provincial government's response, we have deployed officers from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) to assist motorists navigating treacherous roads.

We wish to express our gratitude for the collaborative efforts of both private and public emergency rescue services, who are working tirelessly to assist stranded motorists on various snow-affected routes.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has swiftly responded to the ongoing heavy snowfall affecting various parts of the province. In coordination with all relevant stakeholders, we have activated emergency response measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens and motorists.

The Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and Provincial Emergency Services have been deployed to assist motorists stranded on roads impacted by the snowfall. These teams are working tirelessly to ensure safe passage and provide assistance where necessary. The Municipal Parks Department is on stand-by to remove tree debris from affected roads and areas.

Furthermore, we are collaborating with non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross and the Al Imdaad Foundation, who are providing food, water, and hot meals to stranded motorists. Provincial agencies, including SASSA and the Department of Social Development (DSD), are actively profiling affected families and offering immediate relief.
Social workers have also been deployed to offer psycho-social support, social welfare services, and child protection services to those in need. ESKOM and municipal electrical departments are on the ground, working to restore power where outages have occurred.

Additionally, SAPS and SANDF are on stand-by with helicopters to assist in delivering hot meals and evacuating individuals in severely impacted areas. Line function departments such as Health, Education, Agriculture, EDTEA, Transport, and Human Settlements have activated their contingency plans to ensure that the needs of affected communities are met swiftly and efficiently.

We urge all residents to remain vigilant, follow safety guidelines, and avoid unnecessary travel to ensure their safety during these challenging weather conditions.

The Provincial Government remains committed to mitigating the impact of the storm and providing continuous support to affected communities. Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.

Department of Transport Interventions

Our dedicated team from Road Traffic Inspectorate and Infrastructure Unit have been working flat out with the entire disaster management teams involving SAPS, SANDF, SANRAL, N3TC, RTMC, Agriculture and Rural Development, COGTA - nationally and provincially including municipalities.

We have deployed more graders to assist with the rescue operations.

As around 09h00, there is just no access for cars from Montrose towards Johannesburg. Ice boulders are everywhere. In the video is a slowly moving traffic from Harrismith towards Montrose. We advise motorists not to attempt to use N3 to Durban.

Around Shell Garage towards Montrose, thats where people have been stuck for two nights.

Trucks and cars are covered in snow.

There are hundreds of trucks and some jackknifed which makes it difficult for graders to remove the snow as rescue teams have to remove one truck at the time including cars.The team is however working hard and and we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are using the cutting edge technology to monitor the road networks also using SANRAL camera control centers. Unfortunately, in some areas the cellphome network is not available

We remain concerned that although thousands of motorists have been freed, others are still trapped.

There are two buses with learners each. They remain our priority. We have assisted 67 learners from Qwabi Primary School who were traveling from Durban to Qwaqwa. They had been stuck.

We wish to assure those who are stuck and many others and their loved ones, that the team has doubled their efforts to clear the snow.Our main focus is to enable the disaster management teams to urgently bring much needed relief.

Following the deployment of more graders, we wish to provide the following update to the members of the fourth estate and the public at large:
 
- N11 - Ladysmith to Newcastle *OPEN*
- N11 AMAJUBA PASS *OPEN*
- R33 - Vryheid to Dundee *OPEN* but water damping on the road at Cotswold 
- R34 - Newcastle to Memel *CLOSED HIGHER UP*
- R34 - Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid *OPEN* 
- R33 - Vryheid to Paulpietersburg *OPEN*
- R34 - Vryheid to Melmoth *OPEN*
- R69 - Vryheid to Pongola *OPEN* 
- N2 - Richardsbay to Piet Retief *OPEN*

In the meantime, motorists are requested to cancel any unnecessary travel.

We extend our appreciation to the private sector and many other non governmental organizations that are taking part in this important rescue operation.

Condolences to the deceased due to hypothermia

As provincial government we wish to extends his deepest condolences to the family of the victims who tragically lost their lives due to hypothermia during the recent snowstorm.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this incredibly difficult time. The Provincial Government stands ready to offer support to the affected family, and we continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of all citizens amid these extreme weather conditions.

One person has died from hypothermia after being trapped in the snow on the N3 in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Midlands EMS Rescue Medics Report's Howick crews, along with Midlands EMS rescue medics, were dispatched to a Merrivale shopping center for a person who had collapsed after being exposed to severe cold overnight while in a taxi stuck in traffic in the snow on the N3, traveling from Johannesburg towards KZN.

The taxi had stopped for refreshments when the incident occurred. Upon arrival, it was found that the individual had collapsed and was in a critical state of hypothermia, requiring urgent medical care.

While en route to the hospital, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated. Full resuscitation efforts were performed, but sadly, the patient was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital.

MULTI-SECTORAL INTERVENTIONS

The Municipal Parks Department has been placed on stand-by to clear tree debris caused by the severe weather conditions. Organizations like the Red Cross and Al Imdaad Foundation are providing sandwiches, water, and hot meals to stranded motorists. Provincial agencies, including SASSA, DSD, and Disaster Management teams, are on alert to expedite the profiling of affected families and offer immediate relief. Additionally, social workers are ready to deliver psycho-social support, social welfare services, and child protection services.

Both ESKOM and the Municipal Electrical Department are mobilized for power restoration efforts, while NT3C is responding to snow-related incidents in accordance with their contingency plan. SAPS and SANDF have been activated, with helicopters on stand-by to assist in delivering hot meals and evacuating severely affected individuals to safer locations. Provincial and Municipal Emergency Services, including RTI, EMS, SAPS, and Search and Rescue, are swiftly responding to reported incidents.

Line function departments such as Education, Health, Agriculture, EDTEA, Transport, NT3C, and Human Settlements have presented their state of readiness during the JOC meeting and have been instructed to activate their contingency plans according to their respective mandates.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Damage Assessments Underway as KwaZulu-Natal Monitors Snowfall Impact
Damage assessments are currently in progress across various regions of KwaZulu-Natal, although access to some of the most affected areas remains challenging. The Provincial Government has been proactive in issuing early warnings to communities, ensuring that necessary precautions are taken to minimize the impact of the heavy snowfall.
Early warnings have been communicated through multiple channels, including the Farmers Association, DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) Information platforms, emails, and direct SMS alerts to farmers. These efforts aim to ensure that all farmers and agricultural stakeholders are fully aware of the evolving situation.
Disaster management teams and early warning units at the farm level have been mobilized and are actively monitoring conditions in affected areas. In regions where snow is forecasted, farmers have been advised to secure their livestock in safe areas to prevent fatalities.