Don’t put the electric blanket away just yet. South Africa is anticipating a shift in weather conditions, with cool temperatures set to sweep across the country in the coming days. Last week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) reported that residents would experience a significant drop in temperatures from Sunday, 29 September, with the potential for light snowfall in certain regions.
Lehlogonolo Thobela, a forecaster at SAWS, reported that the southern parts of the country, especially the Western Cape, will face particularly chilly conditions, with temperatures anticipated to range between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius.
As the cold front advances, by Monday, 30 September, KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Free State will also feel the chill. “There is some light snow expected over the highland areas of the Eastern Cape, as well as in the southwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and near the Lesotho border, between September 30 and October 1,” Thobela said, emphasising that while snow is anticipated, it will be light. The cold snap will reach the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal escarpment on October 1, but temperatures will begin to rise again by October 2.
Acting Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mmamoloko Kubayi, urged South Africans to stay vigilant. This warning comes after the long weekend was marked by heavy snow that affected several regions, including Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape. The severe weather caused chaos on the N3 toll route and other local roads, leaving many motorists, truck drivers, and bus passengers stranded. Tragically, two people lost their lives due to hypothermia after being trapped in their vehicles; one of the victims was a 39-year-old woman in a minibus.
TikTok user @PelokaziM shared a video showing vehicles stuck on the highway for 23 hours, completely covered in snow.
Meanwhile, radio personality Penny Ntuli also posted a video of her experience on the N3, where she checked on other drivers to ensure they were still alive. Ntuli is recovering at her mother’s home in Durban after being stranded in the snow in the Drakensberg region.
What started as a funny experience quickly turned serious, TikTok user @OneandOnlyRori shared her journey, saying that the situation became less amusing as time went on.
Amidst the chaos, some captured memorable moments in the snow, saying, “We bring snow to the table.”
As South Africa braces for this significant weather shift, residents are reminded to stay vigilant and prepared for the cold.