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A blanket of snow covers the N2 on Tuesday.
Supplied/KZN Transport Department
- Strong winds and rare snowfall over the past two days damaged over 80 homes and 68 schools, mostly in the Ugu District.
- No fatalities were reported, but four children were injured.
- Eskom and municipal teams have restored power to most affected areas, major roads have reopened, and disaster teams are assisting displaced families.
Clean-up operations are in full swing across parts of KwaZulu-Natal after strong winds and unexpected snowfall caused widespread damage earlier this week.
Although no lives were lost, four children were injured when the roof of a school in the Ugu District was blown off.
The four pupils from Alberton Secondary School in Harding, on the South Coast, were injured on Tuesday morning when strong winds tore off part of the school roof.
Two of the injured pupils were rushed to a nearby clinic, and the other two, who were seriously injured, were taken to St Andrew’s Hospital for further medical care.
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi said the pupils are recovering from their injuries.
The Ugu District was among the hardest hit, with more than 80 households damaged by strong winds.
READ | KZN battles storm damage; four pupils injured in roof collapse
Many families were left without electricity after power lines were brought down. However, Eskom and municipal teams have managed to restore power to most areas, with full restoration expected by the end of the day.
Buthelezi praised the quick response of emergency services.
“Our disaster teams have been working around the clock alongside other departments to assist affected communities,” he said.
We know this has been a difficult time for many, and we are committed to helping people get back on their feet.
Public infrastructure also took a knock, especially schools.
A total of 68 schools in nine districts suffered damage, 38 of those in Ugu alone.
In Pietermaritzburg, the Mpumuza area under Msunduzi Local Municipality also felt the brunt of the storm, with 31 households damaged by strong winds.
Many families were displaced, and disaster relief teams were on the ground offering support.
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Snowfall and icy conditions led to temporary road closures in parts of the province, but by Wednesday morning, major routes, including the N2 and R56 in the far south, had been cleared and reopened.
This is expected to ease movement and allow Eskom to reach areas still without electricity.
As the cold weather continues, residents are being urged to stay warm and use caution when heating their homes. Authorities are also encouraging people to stay informed by following official weather alerts.
