Unexpected snowfall blankets South Africa, causing widespread disruptions

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) — Rare and heavy snowfall blanketed parts of South Africa, leading to disruptions across the country, a national meteorological service announced Sunday.

The South African Weather Service said in a statement to the media that the anomalous weather event caught many off guard, causing significant challenges for transportation, infrastructure, and daily life.

Major highways and roads have been closed due to the heavy snow buildup, leading to traffic jams and delays.

One X user under the name Kristy Tallman lamented the "exceptional snowfall in South Africa: Highway between Durban and Johannesburg BLOCKED due to ice and snow, causing serious disruptions."

Many social media accounts have taken to social media to post videos of the unprecedented snowfall.

Public transportation was also impacted, with some trains and buses unable to operate.

Unconfirmed reports from local media suggest that two people have died from hypothermia due to the unprecedented snowfall.

Emergency services have been working around the clock to clear roads and restore power, residents have been urged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.