Reschedule or postpone travel plans in KwaZulu-Natal next week.
That's the word from KwaZulu-Natal transport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, who has warned the public against travel in the province ahead of expected snowfalls next week.
“Members of the public are urged to reschedule or postpone their journeys in anticipation of any eventuality. We can all agree that prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Duma was speaking in Durban on Thursday where he outlined the department’s state of readiness for the snow and subsequent heavy rains that are expected next week.
The SA Weather Service (Saws) warned that the province may experience snow from Monday into Tuesday, singling out Ladysmith, Underberg, Drakensberg, Giant's Castle and other high-ground areas as those most likely to be affected.
Once the snow stops on Tuesday, it will be followed by rainfall in various parts of the province including Durban and other coastal areas.
This follows heavy snowfall last weekend where hundreds of motorists were trapped along the N3 and other major routes, resulting in at least one person dying of hypothermia.
Duma said they are taking on board lessons from last week's inclement weather and the department is embarking on more robust road safety measures, which include strengthening preventive measures and the efficiency of warning systems to the public.
“We’ve struggled a bit with the issue of warnings as a country and we’re trying to be more robust and proactive. The issue of early detection has been done but has not been adhered to correctly,” he acknowledged.
“We have internalised that erratic weather patterns caused by climate change require agility, discipline and dedication from all categories of staff in the department.”
He said while Saws is still expected to update its forecast before Monday, the department wanted to be ahead of any disaster.
Duma said their teams, working with Sanral and other role players from national to municipal roads through the Road Incident Management Systems (RIMS), are devising a plan and identifying areas for joint operations and co-ordination.
The department's Road Traffic Inspectorate is establishing a satellite centre, which will start operating on Saturday on a 12-hour shift on top of Van Reenen's Pass to close the road to prevent people getting trapped in the snow.
Our focus is on decentralising early warning systems to reach all road users effectively and timeously
— Siboniso Duma, KwaZulu-Natal transport and human settlements MEC
He said they are observing major routes in consultation with N3 toll concessions, focusing on the N3 between Harrismith and Tugela , the R617 between Kokstad and Underberg, the N2 in Ingeli, the N3 in Mooi River and other areas.
“Our teams will also be responsible for escorting trucks and vehicles to ensure there is no congestion on the road,” he said.
He said the Transport Infrastructure Unit is working with drivers of graders to ensure they respond efficiently to remove any snow before it accumulates on the road.
All 21 graders will be on standby, with 10 stationed on the identified routes to ensure a faster response.
He added they engaged with the road freight industry, including trucking companies managing and supplying drivers, the South African National Taxi Council and bus councils, bus and truck associations and port operators to “avoid any crisis and ensure the safety of road users.”
Duma said they will work with various stakeholders in future, including Saws, to strengthen internal capacity to respond to the threats posed by climate change and continue collaborating with the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs' disaster management committee.
“Our focus is on decentralising early warning systems to reach all road users effectively and timeously.”
They will also focus on educating and promoting public awareness programmes on climate change and its effects on road infrastructure and human settlements.
“We have to elevate the understanding that the issue of global warming is real. People are no longer going to be allowed to build on flood lines, the wetlands and areas where lightning occurs. Education will be ongoing.”
Thabani Nyawose, speaker of eThekwini council, said the city’s disaster teams are engaging people in informal settlements and low-lying areas and encouraging them to be cautious.
Duma also elaborated on the damage extreme weather causes to roads. He said road infrastructure had deteriorated faster than anticipated in the province due to the changes in weather patterns and excessive rains experienced over the years.
They have assigned engineers, working with Sanral, to assess the impact of the recent snowfall on road infrastructure and provide a report.
“In the meantime, they have informed us that when water and ice seep into existing cracks on our roads and freeze, these cracks turn into large potholes.”
He said the department set aside R4bn in the 2024/25 budget to maintain its road network, which includes rehabilitating and resealing roads in the province.
“In view of the ongoing severe weather patterns, it is clear the goalpost keeps moving. We have to strike a delicate balance between constructing new projects and maintaining existing infrastructure.”
The department has budgeted R8.7bn for transport infrastructure, with R3.7bn set aside for the construction of new infrastructure projects (roads and bridges), while more than R58m is for infrastructure planning and design, and a further R920m has been allocated to support programmes within transport infrastructure.
“We are highlighting these figures to underline our commitment to ensure that our road infrastructure is developed, maintained, and rehabilitated to support economic growth.”
He said they are working on developing and modernising rail transport for both freight and passenger rail.
“Working with the national minister of transport Barbara Creecy, Prasa and other role players, we must ensure we deploy wagons to move cargo from road to rail, with a specific focus on coal.
“In addition, we want to improve rail services in the province so they can serve as the backbone of public transport, while recognising the huge challenges facing commuter rail services in KwaZulu-Natal and throughout the country.”
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