Issuing of snow weather alerts could have been handled better: Duma

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma says there is room for improvement in how members of the public received the ongoing weather alerts around the weekend’s snowstorm.

Hundreds of motorists were left stranded for hours as traffic backed up on the N3 when heavy snowfall forced the temporary closure of Van Reenen’s Pass at the start of the weekend.

Duma also met with the drivers of motor graders and law enforcement agencies who worked to remove the black ice on the road.

As the situation returned to normal on the KwaZulu-Natal N3 toll route after a snowy weekend, traffic authorities say they will continue to monitor all major routes.

The national highway, which is now fully open to motorists, was closed at the weekend at Van Reenen’s Pass between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

This was due to heavy snowfall that caused black ice. One person- a woman – died of hypothermia.

Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesperson, Sindi Msimang says, “The roads in the province are all open now for travel in some parts there is ice but we are expecting it to melt and it’s not on the road. We would like to urge motorist to driving down to be cautious but otherwise everything is back to normal in the province. We have a traffic offices monitoring because we do not sure with this Weather because it keeps on changing it predictable.”

Despite the critiques on what many say was the provincial governments’ failure to respond quickly to the disaster, MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, says he is satisfied with the work done to reach out to stranded motorists.

He says they could improve on sending alerts.

“At this point in time there is a blame game directed to the government. The reality is that we did issue alerts . The Weather Pattern SA, they gave us enough time to respond in time. But the reality is that even those who are not essential, we found on the road. But the blame is always directed to the government. But we are also going to be improved and ensure that we dispatch all the information in all platforms going onwards,” says Duma.

Weather | A look at warning systems and interpretation

The inclement weather also saw humanitarian organisations standing in solidarity -and lending a hand.

Motorists who survived the cold nights live to tell the tale.

48-year-old long distance heavy duty truck driver – Miriam Mzingaza – has been hailed for her selflessness, after she helped commuters.

She was travelling from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal when the N3 toll route along Van Reenen’s Pass was forced to close.

Mzingaza shared what little food and water she had with the motorists around her.

“It was not easy for the private car vehicles coming down to Durban. They were stuck in the snow and we tried by all means to help I had a little food in my truck. I tried to make coffee and tea for them. I saw kids who were struggling with the snow and were very small it was very very cold . There are no shops nearby . My advice to ask truckers When you are driving make sure that you have everything in the truck like food and water. I had 15 litres of water remember giving it to all those people to warm their hands. I ran out of water and I decided to take ice.”

One of the grader operators Phumlani Mazibuko says removing the thick black ice on the road was a mission.

He says their aim was to reach those entrapped still alive.

“The situation was really bad in such a way that even though we were trying to remove the black ice from the road sometimes we would also get stuck and would be forced to get out of the vehicle and use a shovel to remove the ice. Our main focus was to save lives. All teams worked collaboratively.”

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance has warned communities of the possible risks of flooding as snow melts.

Disaster management teams continue to monitor areas along the Tugela River, from Ladysmith to uMsinga.