Heavy snowfall turned the N3 into a no-go zone last weekend, with motorists stranded for nearly two days between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith.
Sadly, two people died of hypothermia.
Videos and images shared on social media showed vehicles covered in a thick blanket of snow.
Among the stranded were the Lutchmans and Singhs, formerly of Port Shepstone, who intended to spend the long weekend with their families in Marburg.
Sundeer Lutchman and his wife Natasha, and Terisha Singh and her children Kenan (9) and Keyanna (1) reached Harrismith last Friday at about 19:00.
As it was snowing lightly, they were excited as it was their first time seeing it. However, when they reached Montrose at 19:30, the road was closed.
“It snowed the entire Friday night while we were trapped in the car. Our phone signals were down, and we could not call our families in Port Shepstone. We spent the night cold and worried and assumed we would be able to travel the next morning,” said Natasha.
Unfortunately, in the morning, their fear of being stranded for longer got real. Thick snow covered the road, which was full of vehicles.
That Saturday morning, they realised they were not going anywhere as it continued to snow.
They soon realised they had no food and water, and fear set in.
“We saw people walking to the Montrose garage, which was about 3.5km from where we were stuck. The temperature at the time was 1°. We walked two hours to the service station. Water was sold out, but we got some food. The return trip was another two-and-a-half-hours,” said Sundeer.
That Saturday afternoon, they called the N3 toll customer careline as many were stranded without water and food, to no avail.
“We felt abandoned, yet we pay toll fees. Our loved ones felt mixed emotions because they didn’t know what was happening. It was so icy that we could not manage in the car on Saturday night; we became restless and uncomfortable, but we had to cope and be strong. We used the toilet next to the truck drivers, but it was difficult,” said Sundeer.
According to the family, graders only cleared the road on Saturday at about 14:00. Thankfully, on Sunday at about 04:00, they managed to drive and passed Van Reenen. The graders had cleared the roads; however, it was still risky as trucks and cars were abandoned along the road.
“We were stuck for two days. Prayer helped calm us. I was disappointed that the government or toll management did not assist and only took care of certain areas. Once we reached Tugela Plaza, we asked why we were being charged R90 toll fee as it should be free because we were stuck for two days. The toll attendant just laughed.”
Looking back, Natasha said they will never forget the trip. “I always wished to see snow, but not this experience. We felt like we were in the Survivor series,” she said.
They finally got to Port Shepstone on Monday this week, spent the day, and returned to Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Authorities are monitoring the weather for more snow this weekend. Weather data as of yesterday morning (Wednesday) showed a trend of a further weakening in the snow forecast for Sunday into Monday next week.
A vast area of the N3 near Harrismith is still without electricity, cellphone and internet signal, as well as water.
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