Snow closes mountain passes
Pupils stuck singing songs on their buses
OVERNIGHT snow in high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape temporarily closed several mountain passes from GraaffReinet to Barkley East, as heavy trucks got stuck on slippery roads yesterday.
Clarendon Girls High School teacher Barbi Harrison said three buses out of a convoy of six, which were travelling to Bloemfontein, were delayed for almost two hours on the Penhoek Pass, 60km north of Queenstown heading.
Peter Colyvas of The Edge mountain retreat in Hogsback said there was heavy ice and frost in the village yesterday morning, but no snow.
“The only snow is on top of Gaika’s Kop and the three Hogsback mountains.”
Harrison said a truck jackknifed higher up the pass causing heavy traffic to grind to a standstill.
She said heavy vehicles battled to get traction and were forced to stop and wait until the early morning sun had melted ice off the tar.
The girls were on their way to compete in a derby sports meeting at Eunice Girls High School.
“The road was not safe so all the girls stayed in the buses throughout the wait and kept themselves busy singing songs.
“The drivers kept the engines running and the heaters were left on. We were never in any danger.”
Harrison said some lighter vehicles tried to negotiate the slippery pass, but decided to wait until it was safe before continuing.
One of them, a bakkie, was seen off the road.
Although large parts of the province experienced rain, icy weather and snow over the past few days, Weather SA Eastern Cape spokesman Garth Sampson said conditions would clear.
People could expect a “sunny but cool” weekend.
Reports were also received on Snow Report SA that Wapadsbergpas between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet was closed for hours yesterday, as well as the Lootsberg pass and the Barkly pass.
SAPS spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said yesterday that there was no blockage or closure of roads in the Whittlesea and Queenstown areas.
Several photos of snow in high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape were posted on the Snow Report SA website and their social media platforms.
An early morning post from Karin Viljoen Rudolph said the Lootsberg and Cradock passes had also been temporarily closed as a result of heavy snow.
Others posted that “black ice” on the road had brought traffic to a temporary standstill.
Snowfalls were reported in mountains near Cradock, Barkly East, Elliot, the Winterberg and parts of the Free State, Lesotho and high-lying areas near Ceres.
Tiffindell ski resort owner Lew Campbell yesterday said the Carlisle’s Hoek pass from Rhodes village had been closed until 10am after 10cm of snow fell overnight.
He said the snow could not have come at a better time as competitive skiers from all over Europe were at the resort to compete in an international ski federation race, which would continue over the weekend.
“We are happy to have extra snow. We have got snow right up the steep parts of the slope.”
He said the temperature at the resort was minus five degrees yesterday morning. — davidm@dispatch.co.za