By Monday afternoon, traffic was flowing freely for passenger vehicles on the N3 freeway after the weekend’s heavy snowfall, but 700 trucks were still stuck on roads between Johannesburg and Durban, with some drivers missing and others blocked and unable to move.
According to Sanral’s N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), mobility was restored on the N3 toll route from 7pm on Sunday, but motorists were advised to delay travelling on the route after heavy snowfall led to the death of two people from hypothermia after hundreds of motorists and truckers were stranded on the freeway.
Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly said while the organisation did not yet have final figures regarding the number of vehicles that had been able to move, the heavy snowfall had caused 54 hours of delay in the supply chain. Some trucks had been able to move this morning although this was “going slowly”, he added.
“We are still looking for some drivers who ‘abandoned’ their trucks to find shelter, warmth, food and safety, and we have some that require assistance to move as they are blocked by others, but this should be mostly cleared by the end of today,” Kelly said.
“Authorities and transport owners were doing their best to trace missing drivers. We don't foresee any disruptions to retail, although we are not exactly sure of what loads/commodities were delayed for the full 54 hours.”
Kelly said most distribution centres were stocked so consumers should not experience any shortages of goods.
“However, outlying areas may see some stock impairment, but again, we don't have a full view of what was delayed as yet. We have around 700 trucks still stuck in areas, not just Van Reenen, but they are either blocked, require assistance or cannot find drivers.
“We are trying to ascertain the exact number of drivers missing - probably won’t be many at all - but their trucks will be in key spots.”
N3TC said on Monday that following this weekend’s severe snowfalls that had led to road users being stranded for almost two days between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith, “mobility is now fully restored on the N3 Toll Route”.
“The extensive backlog of traffic between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State has been cleared. Traffic authorities have assessed the area between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith and have given the green light for travel to resume, but with an important warning: Although the road is now safe enough for travel, it is highly recommended that road users only commence their trips from tomorrow (Monday),” the N3TC said.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Premier, Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, announced on Sunday afternoon that two people had died of hypothermia after being stuck in vehicles in the freezing cold.
Madlopha-Mthethwa gave an update on the province’s emergency rescue efforts and the steps that were being taken to ensure the safety of residents and road users. She said many motorists had been rescued from the road, while others remained trapped.
For regular, verified route and traffic information, follow @N3Route on X or call the 24/7 N3 helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report incidents or for emergency assistance.
