As the weather continues to deteriorate across the country, the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Saki Mokoena, urges the public to avoid traveling to snow-affected areas for recreational purposes and to limit unnecessary travel until conditions improve. 

This follows the South African Weather Service's issuance of a Yellow Level 2 warning, with approximately 4 to 10 centimeters of snow expected today, which may result in icy roads, localized traffic disruptions, and temporary closures of some non-major mountain passes. 

They have indicated that disruptive snowfall is expected along the Lesotho border and may extend to the north-eastern parts of the Free State.

“Snow may look beautiful, but these conditions can change very quickly and place lives at risk. We therefore appeal to our communities not to go out into the snow simply for fun and to avoid unnecessary travel at all costs,” said Mokoena.

He says the provincial disaster management teams have been deployed across affected areas and are working with municipalities, emergency services and other disaster management structures to monitor conditions and assist affected communities.

“The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Disaster Management Centre and Maluti-a-Phofung Fire and Rescue Services are closely monitoring the situation from Harrismith.

“This is because snowfall has been reported in mountainous areas around Tsheseng, with no reports of snowfall in residential areas, he said.