Trucks block emergency services from reaching trapped motorists

@scrollaafrica Motorists stuck for days on the N3 due to heavy snow and jackknifed trucks! Emergency services still struggling to reach them. #Weather #Snow #News #SouthAfrica ♬ original sound Scrolla.Africa
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By Celani Sikhakhane

Emergency services are still struggling to reach motorists stuck on the N3 near Montrose due to heavy trucks blocking the snow-covered roads.

KZN Acting Premier Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said in a media briefing on Sunday that as of 9am, there was no access for cars from Montrose towards Johannesburg.

She said there were huge blocks of ice everywhere and a video showed slowly moving traffic from Harrismith towards Montrose.

“We advise motorists not to attempt to use the N3 to Durban. Around the Shell Garage towards Montrose people have been stuck for two nights,” she said.

On Monday afternoon, the N3 toll route and all other highways affected by the snowstorm were reopened to traffic, according to a government announcement.

Hundreds of vehicles, including some jackknifed trucks are stuck in the snow, making it difficult for graders to clear the route, complicating the process. Rescue teams are removing vehicles one by one.

KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said they are working with NGOs like the Red Cross and the Al Imdaad Foundation to provide stranded motorists with food, water, and hot meals. Provincial agencies, including Sassa and the Department of Social Development (DSD), are also offering immediate relief.

She said social workers are on the ground, providing psychosocial support, welfare, and child protection services. Eskom and municipal teams are working to restore power in areas hit by outages.

Among those rescued were two buses carrying high school students travelling from Durban to Qwaqwa in the Free State.

“We are using cutting-edge technology to monitor the road networks and Sanral camera control centres. Unfortunately, cell phone networks are unavailable in some areas,” said KaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

Some alternative routes that have been reopened:

– N11: Ladysmith to Newcastle

– N11: Amajuba Pass

– R33: Vryheid to Dundee (with water on road at Cotswold)

– R34: Newcastle to Memel which is closed higher up

– R34: Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid

– R33: Vryheid to Paulpietersburg

– R34: Vryheid to Melmoth

– R69: Vryheid to Pongola

– N2: Richards Bay to Piet Retief

Motorists are urged to avoid any unnecessary travel in the area.

Pictured above: KZN Acting Premier Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa with MEC for Cogta Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi revealed heavy trucks are making it difficult to get to motorists stuck on the N3. 

Source: Zandile Shange/Premier’s Office

This story was updated at 3pm on Monday 23 September to add information that the the N3 toll route and all other highways affected by the snowstorm were reopened to traffic

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