Efforts underway to clear snow-hit N2
The Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal says teams are hard at work to clear the N2 in the vicinity of Kokstad.
More than 100 motorists and truckers have been snowed in for hours.
"Foot graders that are removing flow here in Kokstad so that the people that are stuck here in buses, as well as truck drivers and the members of the public, are able to move around,” said the department's Ndabezinhle Sibiya.
He said while he can't predict how long the process will take, they are trying to ensure the snow doesn't pile up to unmanageable levels.
" We need to remove snow before it accumulates to about 30 centimetres in depth. Last year, when we experienced the snowfall, along the N3 around Mooi River, it was above 20 centimetres to 30 centimetres in depth. So we have ensured that we have graders that are stationed on various major routes."
READ: Mass power outages in weather-torn KZN
All routes leading to Kokstad and Port Shepstone were shut in the early hours this morning.
The R56 and R617 between Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg, the R603 linking Tacoma and Reit and the N2 near Ingeli are also affected.
One of the motorists stranded in the heavy snow is Mbali Ngulela, a medic with KZN EMRS.
" We've been stuck since 2:00 this morning. We are coming from Pietermaritzburg. Many cars are stuck with us. People are getting out of their cars. Some cars are off the road, so we are trying to help. Some are getting very cold, so they've been impatient since they were stuck with us this morning."
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