Several traffic vehicles parked on a road covered in snow. Authorities help motorists during a snow storm that left thousands stranded and resulted in one death due to hypothermia in KwaZulu-Natal. Picture: KZN Cogta
Image: COGTA
The SA Weather Service (Saws) said temperatures in KwaZulu-Natal will slowly improve, with temperatures on Tuesday reaching a maximum of 30°C in some areas.
Speaking to The Mercury on Sunday, Saws forecaster Ayanda Ntsele said the rain and snow had stopped.
Ntsele said there would not be any more significant rain in the province.
“In terms of temperatures, we are going to pick up quite slowly from tomorrow (Monday), but we’ll still be in the lower 20s along the coast. And then over the interior, we’re still under the 20s.
“From Tuesday, that is when we start to go above 25°C with Pietermaritzburg and Durban reaching a maximum of 30°C as well as Richards Bay.
Ntsele said fine and warm conditions were expected for the rest of the week.
Speaking on Sunday, acting KZN Premier Thembeni Kamadlopha Mthethwa said two people had died from hypothermia after being trapped in the snow on the N3 in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
She said the Midlands EMS rescue medics reported that Howick crews, along with Midlands EMS rescue medics, were dispatched to a Merrivale shopping centre after a person who had been exposed to severe cold overnight while in a taxi collapsed.
Mthethwa said the taxi had been stuck in traffic in the snow on the N3, travelling 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,” she said.
Mthethwa called on all citizens to exercise caution in light of the heavy snowfall and rain 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,” Mthethwa said.
She said the provincial government had responded to the heavy snowfall affecting various parts of the province in co-ordination with all relevant stakeholders.
“We have activated emergency response measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens and motorists,” she said.
According to Mthethwa, the government remained concerned because although thousands of motorists had been freed, others were still trapped.
“There are two buses with learners each. They remain our priority. We have assisted 67 learners from Qwabi Primary School who were travelling from Durban to QwaQwa. They had been stuck,” she said.
The acting premier assured those who were stuck and their loved ones that the team had doubled its efforts to clear the snow.
“Our main focus is to enable the disaster management teams to urgently bring much-needed relief,” she said.
The provincial government urged motorists to cancel any unnecessary travel.
The Mercury
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