Stranded in the snow: A personal account of disarray and despair on the N3

As I sit here, still recovering from the night I spent in my car on the N3 near Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, I’m filled with a sense of disbelief.

Hundreds of us were stranded in a rare and extreme weather event that left us with little control over our circumstances.

While the authorities did respond, the situation quickly became overwhelming, and those of us stuck on the road were left to face harsh conditions with very limited resources.

The snow began falling on Friday afternoon, and within hours, what should have been a normal drive turned into a long, freezing ordeal.

The N3, a critical highway, was immobilised, and drivers were trapped, unable to move forward or retreat. The snow piled up around us, isolating people in their cars for hours, and for some, a lack of petrol and food made the situation even more desperate.

While we understand the scale of this weather was unprecedented, the fact that warnings were issued in advance raises important questions.

It felt like more could have been done to ensure we were informed and supported throughout the crisis. Emergency workers made appearances, but there was little communication about what to expect, leaving many of us wondering when help would come or how long we’d be stuck.

The uncertainty was particularly painful. As the night wore on, we found solace in each other, passing information from car to car.

But that small comfort could not ease the growing anxiety. The backlog of vehicles stretched for kilometres, and the cold became unbearable for those unable to keep their engines running.

It was heartbreaking to see people who were already struggling, families with babies, elderly passengers, and those without access to basic necessities like food and warmth.

As we waited, news came through that services in surrounding communities were also disrupted, with power and water outages adding to the challenges. The situation on the highway mirrored this larger breakdown – the need for assistance was immediate and urgent.

By Saturday evening, there was still little progress in clearing the roads, and while authorities worked hard to address the crisis, communication gaps left us in the dark.

Social media offered some updates, but many on the road had no way of accessing that information. For an event like this, clear, consistent updates should have been provided to everyone stranded.

In times of crisis, an integrated, coordinated response is essential.

While I appreciate the efforts of the emergency services and the rescue workers, I believe a more robust approach could have been employed, with stronger collaboration between agencies like SANRAL, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and disaster management.

Early communication and preparation would have helped to reduce the confusion and discomfort so many of us experienced. The defence force were only able to respond on Sunday, when the crisis was beginning to ease.

As I reflect on those 24 hours in the freezing cold, I think of the families who didn’t have the resources to keep warm or buy food, the vulnerable people left without clear instructions, and the uncertainty we all faced. This situation highlighted the need for a stronger, more prepared response to extreme weather events in our country.

It is also with great sadness that I missed the chance to say goodbye to my friend Rio Nolutshungu, a brilliant leader in local government, whose funeral I was travelling to attend. Missing his burial due to the snowstorm has been a deeply painful loss.

While we cannot always predict the weather, we can certainly be more prepared for its impact.

Going forward, we must learn from this experience. We need to ensure that in future emergencies, there is clear communication and swift action to support those in need. Lives depend on it.