Johannesburg,South Africa

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited(SANRAL) confirmed that the road has been cleared along N3 Toll Route between Van Reenen's Pass and Montrose which was engulfed by the snow since Friday.

Sanral said the Road Traffic Inspectorate(RTI) and N3TC Route Services will now commence to slowly escort stranded road users out of the area in the southbound lanes(towards KwaZulu-Natal).

Graders and rescue teams are spotted in other parts of the N3 where they are busy clearing the road for stranded road users to pass.

The road users are advised to drive carefully and follow the instructions which are issued by rescue teams and traffic officials.

The senior manager of the N3 Toll Route has thanked the selflessness which showed by people of South Africa from all walks of life to provide help to stranded road users.

"As we gear up to reopen the N3 Toll Route,SANRAL and N3TC would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to all disaster relief organisations,road incident management teams,humanitarian groups,local farmers,and community associations who have provided emergency services and essential aid to stranded motorists.Your selfless efforts exemplify dedication and compassion in action.You are the real heroes of the N3 Toll Route,"said Thania Dhoogra,Chief Operating Officer of N3TC.

On Saturday afternoon,the Midlands EMS has confirmed that one of the road users who was stuck on the road while was traveling from Johannesburg to KZN has died on the way to hospital.

"Midlands EMS Howick crews,along with Midlands EMS rescue medics,were dispatched to a Merrivale shopping center for a person who had collapsed after being exposed to severe cold overnight while in a taxi stuck in traffic in the snow on the N3,traveling from Johannesburg towards KZN.The taxi had stopped for refreshments when the incident occurred.

"Upon arrival,it was found that the individual had collapsed and was in a critical state of hypothermia,requiring urgent medical care.

While en route to the hospital,the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated.Full resuscitation efforts were performed,but sadly,the patient was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital,"said Midlands EMS on its Facebook page.

Even the MEC of Department of Transport and Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed too that the efforts to rescue motorists that are stranded on N3 Toll Route is in advanced stage.

MEC Siboniso Duma said our dedicated team from Road Traffic Inspectorate and Infrastructure Unit have been working flat out with the entire disaster management teams involving SAPS,SANDF,SANRAL,N3TC,RTMC,Agriculture and Rural Development,COGTA-nationally and provincially including municipalities.

Duma confirmed that his department has deployed more graders to assist with the rescue operations.

Duma also revealed that as around 09h20,there is just no access for cars from Montrose towards Johannesburg.Ice boulders are everywhere.

Duma admitted that their rescue operations are not easy at all because trucks and cars are covered in snow.

He added that there are hundreds of trucks and some jackknifed which makes it difficult for graders to remove the snow as rescue teams have to remove one truck at the time including cars.

He also revealed that two buses that were trapped in the snow which carrying school children,however one of the buses have been rescued which was carrying 67 learners from Qwabi Primary School who were traveling from Durban to Qwaqwa.

Duma also confirmed roads which now are opened for motorists to use across the province of KwaZulu-Natal as follow:N11(Ladysmith to Newcastle),N11(Amajuba Pass),R33(Vryheid to Dundee),R34(Newcastle to Bloodriver/Vryheid),R33(Vryheid to Paulpietersburg),R34(Vryheid to Melmoth),R69(Vryheid to Pongola) and N2(Richards Bay to Piet Retief).