Siphelele Nketo
THIS week, adverse weather conditions across parts of South Africa have brought biting cold, road disruptions as well as a white blanket of snow in mountainous areas.
In the Drakensburg area of KwaZulu-Natal near Underberg, snow covered the mountains, attracting tourists to view the breathtaking sight. According to Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality mayor Sindi Msomi, the Underberg area often receives a large number of visitors during snowfall periods, which contributes towards the economy and boosts tourism.
“Supermarkets and accommodation facilities benefit a lot during snowfall,” she said, adding that the influx of tourists passing through the Underberg area towards the Lesotho border has increased since temperatures dropped this week. Even though the snow did not fall in the area of Underberg, snow chasers often use the Underberg routes to reach the mountains.
“We don’t have snow in Underberg, it’s only in the Lesotho mountainous areas. We have received quite a number of calls enquiring about the snow in Lesotho and if the border is open.”
“So the border is open, and we are expecting an influx of tourists passing through Underberg and Himeville to Lesotho,” she added. The heavy snowfalls in parts of the Eastern Cape such as the R56 road between Matatiele and Mount Fletcher, and Ugie to Elliot caused wet and slippery roads and that led to the Eastern Cape Department of Transport issuing several warnings to motorists to exercise extreme caution, as roads were dangerous for driving. Motorists travelling along these routes were advised to reduce speed and increase following distances to allow for longer stopping distances, keep headlights switched on to improve visibility and avoid sudden braking. Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose, on Thursday morning, confirmed the reopening of the R58 road between Barkly East and Lady Grey.
“The road is fully drivable. There is currently no mist, rainfall or snowfall on the roadway. Snow is only visible along the roadside,” he said. He urged motorists to remain vigilant as persistent rainfall in some areas left the ground saturated, increasing the risk of rock falls, mudslides and slippery road surfaces.
