Snowstorm in South Africa Paralyzes Roads, Causes Deaths and Traps Hundreds of Motorists

Unprecedented Snowstorm Freezes South Africa

It’s not something you hear about often: South Africa buried under meters of snow and hundreds of people trapped in their cars overnight. But from September 20 to 24, 2024, a powerful snowstorm hammered much of the country, sending provinces like Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape into chaos. For a region more used to mild winters, this blizzard didn’t just disrupt travel—it turned highways into icy parking lots and put lives at risk.

The N3 highway, South Africa’s busy connection between Johannesburg and Durban, became the storm’s epicenter. Drivers found themselves stranded between the Tugela Plaza and Harrismith as thick snow and black ice forced one of the country’s most critical routes to close. Some travelers didn’t move for more than 24 hours, stuck in freezing cars with no food, water, or way to get warm. A handful tried to walk to safety, but even that proved dangerous; reports described snow piling up to six feet high, turning roadsides into frozen barriers.

Tragedy, Rescue Efforts, and Ongoing Dangers

The freezing temperatures turned deadly. Emergency teams confirmed two people died of hypothermia during the ordeal: one was a 39-year-old woman found in a stranded minibus, and the other passed away overnight, likely unable to withstand the biting cold. Even as the South African Police Service, the National Roads Agency (SANRAL), and organizations like the N3 Toll Concession scrambled to reach those in trouble, the scale of the blizzard meant many had to huddle together and wait for help that took hours to arrive.

Rescue crews made sure the most vulnerable—kids, the elderly, and people with medical needs—were the first to get supplies and warmth. But resources were stretched thin. Motorists described their frustration as communication networks became patchy, and updates on the roads’ status rarely brought good news. Humanitarian teams distributed blankets, food, and water once they managed to reach the trapped vehicles, but for many, the wait was a long test of patience and endurance.

And the dangers didn’t end once the plows started clearing roads. As the snow began to melt, new risks popped up—especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where river levels rose quickly. Flood warnings went out, with disaster managers pointing to the threat along rivers like the Tugela. Schools closed across several districts, and local officials begged families to keep their children away from flood-prone water. Cooperative Governance Minister Thulasizwe Buthelez made a clear point: what starts as snow can quickly turn to severe flooding, especially for curious kids who just want to play in the runoff.

N3 Toll Concession’s operations manager Thania Dhoogra called attention to the “round-the-clock” rescue and recovery jobs happening since the start of the storm. By September 24, mop-up crews were out, but big travel advisories stayed in place—no one wanted a quick return to traffic on roads that might still be holding black ice beneath the muddy slush. Full re-opening dates were still up in the air, with the government promising updates once things were truly safe.

For many in South Africa, this storm will be hard to forget—a rare display of nature’s power in a usually temperate part of the world. It left behind more than just icy roads and school closures: the scars of panic, loss, and heroic effort will stick with drivers and their families for a long time.