Durban – Several roads in KwaZulu-Natal have been closed as snowfall hits parts of the province, with authorities urging motorists to delay their journeys and members of the public to remain indoors.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) had activated its Snowfall Response Plan to prevent motorists and people travelling to view the snow from becoming stranded.
The R617 has been closed, with traffic being diverted to the R56, while roads in Kokstad, Kingscot and Underberg have also been affected.
RTI reported that a truck had become stuck on the R617 in Kingscot.
“To ensure that motorists and snow chasers are not trapped in areas where there is a snowfall, the Road Traffic Inspectorate is already implementing the Snowfall Response Plan,” Duma said.
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He urged motorists to postpone non-essential travel and warned members of the public against venturing into affected areas.
“We are requesting motorists to delay their trips and members of the public to remain indoors, as prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Duma said the province’s snowfall response plan included clearing snow before it reached dangerous levels.
“As we have stated in the past, our Snowfall Response plan involves removing snow before it could accumulate to more than 30 cm in depth,” he said.
Grader operators have been deployed as part of efforts to clear affected roads and maintain access.
“In this regard, our hard-working operators of graders have been activated,” Duma said.
To ensure that motorists and snow chasers are not trapped in areas where there is a snowfall, the Road Traffic Inspectorate is already implementing the Snowfall Response Plan.
Accordingly, we wish to inform motorists and the people of KwaZulu-Natal of the closure of some roads… pic.twitter.com/QqeXCX1yJp
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) August 10, 2026
The MEC also warned that extreme weather could worsen existing damage to the province’s road network.
“Our engineers 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.
Duma attributed the increasingly severe weather conditions to climate change, saying KwaZulu-Natal had experienced a range of extreme weather events.
“These are the realities of erratic weather patterns caused by climate change,” he said.
“Every year we witness extreme hot weather accompanied by heavy rains and now snowfall.”
The province’s response to extreme weather and its impact on transport infrastructure is expected to form part of discussions at the upcoming Transport Indaba.
Duma said the challenges would be discussed during the event, scheduled for the first week of October at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
