N3 travel alert: Snow, ice and rain bring hazardous driving conditions
Updated Aug. 10, 2026, 9:59 a.m. | By Newswatch and Simphiwe Gumede N3TC expects heavy northbound traffic towards Gauteng, with motorists warned about…
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Updated Aug. 10, 2026, 9:59 a.m. | By Newswatch and Simphiwe Gumede
N3TC expects heavy northbound traffic towards Gauteng, with motorists warned about weather and construction-related delays.
As the Women’s Day long weekend draws to a close, the N3 Toll Concession has warned that icy conditions, light snowfall, rain and freezing temperatures are affecting parts of the N3 Toll Route on Monday morning.
It says snow has been reported around Swinburne, with rain and sleet affecting areas between Mooi River and Warden.
The N3TC has warned this may cause hazardous driving conditions during the day.
As a precaution, it says its route operations teams have begun applying apply brine across all lanes from Van Reenen Pass towards Harrismith.
Chief Operating Officer, Thania Dhoogra, explains the process is to help prevent the formation of black ice.
She adds it will be extended to other areas of the road should weather conditions require it.
As people make their way back home, the N3TC says busy northbound traffic towards Gauteng is expected on Monday.
It's urged road users to factor the adverse weather and ongoing construction activities – which it says will likely result in travel delays.
Drivers are being reminded to reduce speed, increase their following distance, avoid overtaking unnecessarily, and keep headlights switched on.
They have also been urged to keep emergency supplies in vehicles, including warm clothing and blankets, water, food, medication, a charger and a torch.
Damaging winds and disruptive snow
This comes as several weather warnings have been issued for KZN.
The coast and adjacent interior are on Monday on a Yellow Level 2alert for damaging winds and waves resulting in difficulty in navigation localised disruption of small harbours and ports with small vessels at risk of taking on water and capsizing.
Disruptive rain can be expected over western and southern KZN, where a Yellow Level 2 warning is in effect.
It may lead to localised flooding of settlements or roads, low-lying areas and bridges - as well as difficult driving conditions on dirt roads.
Western KZN is also under a Yellow Level Two warning for disruptive snow on Monday and Tuesday, resulting in isolated loss of vulnerable livestock and crops.
KZN Cooperative Governance spokesperson Siboniso Mngadi has given the assurance that disaster management teams are on high alert.
“MEC [Thulasizwe] Buthelezi has urged all the residents, particularly in the central areas of the province, to exercise extreme caution when they are using fire during this period. The motorists are also advised to exercise extreme caution, particularly on the major routes that passes the corridors, including the N3 between Van Reenen Pass and Howick.”
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