KwaZulu‑Natal residents were warned to take care after snowfall and heavy rain this week disrupted electricity supplies, closed major roads and prompted coastal weather alerts.
Technicians deployed as outages hit multiple towns
Eskom in KZN said it is investigating outages affecting several areas after crews reported snow and persistent rainfall. Technicians were dispatched to Kokstad, Franklin, Nottingham Road and Underberg, where snow and heavy rain were reported, the utility said. Networks serving Pietermaritzburg, Margate, Estcourt and Empangeni were also affected by the rainfall.
The power utility urged residents to treat all electrical installations as live and to keep away from fallen cables and damaged infrastructure. Some areas were inaccessible on Monday night because roads were closed amid the adverse conditions, Eskom said.
Roads, travel and safety advice
Adverse weather forced the closure of several major routes, including the R617 and parts of the N3, although authorities reported those routes had been reopened at the time of the latest updates. The N3 Toll Concession flagged high‑lying sections such as Van Reenen, and the stretch between Balgowan and Nottingham Road, as particularly vulnerable to very cold conditions and intermittent closures.
Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa urged residents to take precautions. The provincial department spokesperson, Pearl‑Maseko Binqose, asked people in affected communities to heed warnings and help vulnerable neighbours.
“Members of the public are also urged to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly through areas affected by heavy snowfall and icy conditions. Exercise extreme caution when driving and avoid roads that are closed, inaccessible or deemed unsafe.”
The department reiterated that people should follow directives from emergency services and road authorities and stay updated via official channels.
Weather Service issues coastal warnings
The South African Weather Service has issued a yellow level 2 warning for parts of the KZN coast for damaging winds and rough seas. Forecaster Wiseman Dlamini warned the conditions could make navigation difficult and disrupt operations at small harbours and ports. He said small vessels face the risk of taking on water or capsizing and warned of wave heights of around 4–6 metres combined with strong winds.
Residents and visitors along the coast were advised to avoid non‑essential marine activity and to heed harbour and port notices.
Where the impacts were reported
Below is a summary of towns and reported impacts from the latest information supplied to authorities:
- Kokstad, Franklin, Nottingham Road and Underberg — technicians dispatched after snowfall and heavy rain.
- Pietermaritzburg, Margate, Estcourt, Empangeni — networks affected by rainfall.
- R617 and parts of the N3 — temporarily closed and later reopened; high‑lying sections remain at risk.
| Area | Reported impact |
|---|---|
| Kokstad | Snowfall; technicians on site |
| Nottingham Road / Underberg | Snow and heavy rain; access issues |
| Pietermaritzburg / Margate / Estcourt / Empangeni | Rain‑related network faults |
Practical safety steps for residents
Officials advise the public to take the following precautions until the situation stabilises:
- Avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas and obey road closure signage.
- Treat fallen cables and damaged electrical infrastructure as live; stay well clear and report to Eskom or SAPS.
- Check updates from the South African Weather Service, SANRAL, N3 Toll Concession and local emergency services before travelling.
- Assist elderly and vulnerable neighbours with shelter, blankets and access to emergency contacts if safe to do so.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions and work to restore services where possible. Eskom and provincial departments asked residents to follow official advisories and not to approach emergency scenes to allow crews to work safely.
Further updates will be issued by the Weather Service, Eskom and road authorities as the systems clear and assessments are completed.
Reporting from Durban.
