Snow closes passes in Eastern Cape

Snow fell on the North East Cape highlands and southern Drakensberg yesterday morning when a powerful but small cold front blew through the province.

Forecaster Garth Sampson said snow fell on all the highlands, closing passes.

Snow lay up to 7cm deep at Barkly East, Maclear and Rhodes.

Zizumile Mgeyi, an administrator at the Cloete Joubert Hospital in Barkly-East, said the Elliot-Barkly East pass was closed.

Hoërskool Barkly East principal Frans van den Berg said schooling was not affected but farmers were “very pleased”.

Tshepo Machaea, spokesman for Arrive Alive, said it was raining heavily in some areas.

He said a few cars had skidded off the roads, but the accidents were minor.

The R61 between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet was reopened before 1pm yesterday.

Machaea advised motorists driving in heavy rain, snow and ice to go slowly.