JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa is conducting final road safety tests ahead of expected snowfall from Monday to Tuesday, as reported by a provincial government official on Sunday.
Siboniso Duma, member of the executive council for transport and human settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, described the impending snowfall as "extremely dangerous and fatal," noting that it could make roads slippery and increase the risk of accidents.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecasted snowfall in the mountainous areas of the Harry Gwala district, with accumulations anticipated to be less than 2 cm.
"We urge motorists to postpone their journeys in anticipation of any eventuality. The Road Traffic Inspectorate, in conjunction with N3 Toll Concession, Free State Provincial Traffic, and National Traffic Police, will ensure immediate assistance to stranded motorists. The team will also ensure traffic diversion should the weather conditions deteriorate," said Duma in a statement.
To mitigate the impact of the snowfall, Duma said that operators of motor graders and transport infrastructure units would be deployed on major roads, with salt and brine applied to reduce the adhesion of snow and ice to road surfaces.
"The team has been sharpened to respond with speed and a sense of urgency to remove any snow before accumulating on the road. Graders and tractor loader backhoes are stationed in identified routes to ensure that our response is faster," said Duma.
The SAWS has indicated that snowfall is expected to hit the Western Cape Province on Sunday morning and will spread to KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning, with further snowfall anticipated in both KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Province on Tuesday. ■
