MEC Duma orders crackdown on abnormal trucks as snow closes R617 near Kokstad

Snowfall in parts of KwaZulu-Natal forced the closure of the R617 towards Kokstad and prompted the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) to activate its Snowfall Response Plan, with provincial officials warning motorists to delay unnecessary trips and stay off the roads where possible.

Road closures and response

According to South Coast Herald (The Citizen / Caxton Local Media), the R617 towards Kokstad was closed and traffic redirected to the R56 after snow began falling in parts of the province. The RTI confirmed it had activated a Snowfall Response Plan to prevent motorists becoming trapped.

The RTI reported a truck stranded on the R617 in the Kingscote area. Road operators and graders were deployed as part of the snowfall response plan to clear snow before it accumulates to more than 30cm, the provincial announcement said.

Where snow was reported and wider network effects

Snowfall was confirmed in and around Kokstad, Underberg, Matatiele, Kingscote and Clifton (around Nottingham Road), the South Coast Herald (The Citizen / Caxton Local Media) reported. Motorists travelling through these areas were urged to exercise extreme caution and to check road conditions before setting out.

The N3 Toll Route was also affected by icy conditions, light snowfall, rain and freezing temperatures. N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) reported a dusting of snow around Swinburne and sleet and rain between Mooi River and Warden. N3TC operations teams began applying brine across lanes from the bottom of Van Reenen Pass towards Harrismith to help prevent black ice.

MEC Duma’s warning and public safety message

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma urged motorists to delay unnecessary trips and asked members of the public to remain indoors where possible. Duma said the RTI’s response was aimed at preventing motorists and so-called snow chasers from becoming stranded in areas experiencing snowfall, adding,

“Prevention is better than cure.”

Advice for drivers

Authorities warned of hazardous conditions caused by a combination of snow, ice, rain and freezing temperatures. N3TC advised motorists to reduce speed, increase following distances, avoid unnecessary overtaking, keep headlights on and allow additional time for journeys. Motorists were also asked to consider delaying travel where possible.

Linking freight compliance and road safety

Provincial officials highlighted measures aimed at keeping roads safe during extreme weather. The South Coast Herald (The Citizen / Caxton Local Media) reported a recent crackdown on freight violations that resulted in 11 trucks being impounded for permit and abnormal load offences, underscoring authorities’ focus on compliance as part of wider road-safety efforts during adverse conditions.

Longer-term concerns

Duma warned that extreme weather is creating longer-term challenges for the province’s road network. Engineers cautioned that water entering existing cracks can freeze and expand, turning small cracks into larger potholes. Duma linked increasingly unpredictable weather to climate change and said the province is experiencing extreme heat, heavy rainfall and snowfall.

Officials said the province’s response to these transport challenges is expected to be discussed at the Transport Indaba scheduled for the first week of October at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, the South Coast Herald (The Citizen / Caxton Local Media) reported.

Editorial notes

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“At Caxton, every story is written by humans. We use AI only to perform quality checks – never to generate the news.”

The publication also notes that

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