EASTERN CAPE SA ( NEWS 24 ) Four trucks jack-knifed and a bus veered off slippery roads in the Eastern Cape as snow measuring between 5 and 20cm fell in high-laying areas in province.
Traffic authorities closed four mountain passes in the province to traffic on Monday due to dangerous driving conditions.
Motorist have been warned to drive cautiously as snow has made roads slippery.
By Monday afternoon, the authorities reopened two of the four passes. The two passes are Penhoek on the N6 between Jamestown and Komani as well Wapadsberg on the R61 between Graaff-Reinet and Cradock.
However, the Barkly Pass on the R58 between Elliot and Barkly East remained closed as municipal workers used heavy-duty machinery to scrape ice and snow off the roadway, said Eastern Cape traffic director Charles Bramwell.
The Lootsberg Pass on the N9 between Graaf-Reinet and Middleberg also remains closed as tow truckers are trying to remove the four jack-knifed trucks.
The Eastern Cape transport department has urged motorists to approach the mountain passes with extra caution as snowfalls continue to wreak havoc on some of the province’s roads.
