Wintry weather wreaks havoc across country

2012-07-16 08:42

Cape Town - Snow and heavy rain has wreaked havoc across the country, with many cars still stuck in the snow and two people freezing to death.

Eyewitness News reported that the bodies of a man and a woman were found on different roads in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.

Three people had also drowned in Port Elizabeth after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the area, SABC radio reported.

Meanwhile, Die Burger reported that over 100 motorists were rescued from various mountain passes and highways.

Beeld stated that several South Africans in Lesotho were still waiting to be brought back home after finding shelter at a conference centre after their vehicles became stuck in the snow.

Officials managed to rescue 41 people from cars on the Butha Buthe pass in Lesotho and brought them back home to SA on Sunday.

Several people were treated on the scene for exposure, dehydration and other conditions.

“The weather was terrible and one car after another drove into each other or slid from the road,” said Ronel Uys, 38, from Centurion on Sunday.

“None of us had luggage with us because most we came on Saturday for the day from the Free State just to come skiing or to look at the snow.”  

The Sunday Argus reported that Cape Town was basically cut off from the rest of the country as snow, floods and rock falls blocked all major roads to and from the city.

Sapa said the SA Weather Service had forecast rising temperatures from Monday.

"We are not expecting anything major as temperatures will start rising slowly on Monday and continue rising throughout the week," forecaster Karl Loots told Sapa.

- Were you out in the winter weather? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.

- News24